ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Solutions for Flash Platform and Flex Application Developers

4.9.1 Problem

You want to draw a shape and fill it with a solid or translucent color at runtime.

4.9.2 Solution

Use the beginFill( ) and endFill( ) methods to initiate and close a shape drawn at runtime.

4.9.3 Discussion

To draw a filled shape, call beginFill( ) prior to any other drawing methods, including the custom methods you have defined such as drawCircle( ) and drawPolygon( ). Invoke endFill( ) after calling other drawing methods to create the shape.

This example creates a solid blue circle with a radius of 100 pixels:

_root.createEmptyMovieClip("shape_mc", 1); // Tell ActionScript to begin a solid, blue fill. shape_mc.beginFill(0x0000FF, 100); // Invoke a custom drawing method, such as drawCircle( ), or invoke lineTo( ) or // curveTo( ) multiple times to create a closed shape. shape_mc.drawCircle(100); // Call endFill( ) to close the shape after other drawing methods have been called. shape_mc.endFill( );

The beginFill( ) method requires two parameters:

fillColor

The RGB value to use for the fill

alpha

The value between 0 (transparent) and 100 (opaque) that controls the opacity

To create a translucent, filled shape, specify an alpha less than 100. If alpha is 0, the shape will appear unfilled. Don't forget to define a line style if you want the outline to be visible.

The endFill( ) method does not require any parameters. It simply ends the fill initiated with beginFill( ) or beginGradientFill( ). To avoid unexpected results, ensure that the pen returns to the starting point to complete the shape before invoking endFill( ).

4.9.4 See Also

Recipe 3.2 and Recipe 4.10