Webmaster Forum / Flash / General Flash Topics / August 2008

This is normally done using Gradient and mask. You will need 3 layers for it.

First top layer will be the mask. Type the text you want to use and when you happy
with the size and all, copy it, CTRL C.

Second layer keep blank for now.

Go to 3rd, bottom layer, paste the text using paste in place CTRL ALT V, so it's
erectly position in a place where the mask text is.
Pretty much it when comes to text, the last part is to make the shine effect.

Go to the second layer, draw some gradient. Make the gradient out of 3 colors, so
the colors in the COLOR pallet appear as gray on the left, gray in the middle and
gray on the right. Set the left and the right to Alpha 0% while keep the middle
fully 100% gray. We want the edges of that gradient soft to simulate the light.
Convert that gradient to movie clip or graphic and motion tween it from one side
to another.
And this is what you end up with:

http://flashfugitive.com/stuff/shine.swf

You need to play around with the gradient to find one that suits your needs.
When comes to image, you simply draw shapes on the mask layer through which you
want the shine /gradient to show up.