# Fading trails on images
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [April 17, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482 "2003-04-17T02:28:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Troll\_axethrowe](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Troll_axethrowe)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/1 "2003-04-17T02:28:53Z")
Hi, I have one point in my movie where a sword is moving across the screen. I would like to make the sword have a fading trail that follows it, how do i do this? I want to do it the right way too, not just cpoying the image and putting an alpha on it and having it follow the main sword. Is there a real way to do this?
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/2 "2003-04-17T15:27:21Z")
Actionscript is the best way. Do a search for mouse trailers. You have probably seen a custom mouse on a flash site that trails various shapes when you move it. It is the same concept.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/3 "2003-04-18T19:00:25Z")
I’ve checked the search, i can find some stuff on mouse trails. But i can figure out how to make a fading trail for a graphic or movie clip.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/4 "2003-04-18T22:01:30Z")
I think you’re referring to a onion skin effect, here’s a link to a tutorial…
[http://www.virtual-fx.net/tutorials/html/onioneffect.htm](http://www.virtual-fx.net/tutorials/html/onioneffect.htm)
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/5 "2003-04-18T23:40:19Z")
there was a thread in the AS section in the forums. i posted several flas which use actionscript to do the trailer. one is for a mouse trailer, another is scripted motion and the last (the one you probably need) is for a movie clip which is tween across the screen. the AS duplicates the movie clip 5 times and makes it follow the movie clip that is ahead of it using inertia. it’s pretty simple scripting although i wish i could figure out a function that makes the movie clip follow the one ahead of it. my scrit is more manual. (if anyone can figure out a function please tell me!) here is the link to the thread [motion trailer stuff](http://www.kirupaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12327)
if you need help with it just tell me although it’s mostly explained in detail in the thread. hope it helps 🙂
-mike
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/fading-trails-on-images/18482/6 "2003-04-24T21:20:59Z")
read this thread. it shows how to do this effect but using AS which requires a lot less effort than the link in the previous post. check it out… [motion trailer link](http://www.kirupaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12327)