# Unusual text fading problem
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538
**Category:** flash
**Created:** [July 22, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538 "2002-07-22T04:10:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fellus](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Fellus)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/1 "2002-07-22T04:10:49Z")
Well, this one is a bit odd.
I have managed to get the text in place. I converted it to a graphic symbol, inserted it at one key frame with alpha at 100%, several frames later in the same layer I inserted a new key frame, changing alpha to 0%, then created a motion tween between the two. When I move the frame indicator back and forth within the Flash MX editor I see the text fade out like it is supposed to, but when I export the movie to .swf format and play it in Flash player 6 there is NO fading. The text appears when it is supposed to, but never fades out.
I first thought there was a problem with my flash player, but I’ve viewed the .swf file on other computers and have the same problem.
Anyone have any ideas?
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/2 "2002-07-22T05:22:10Z")
plesae post your fla. Im sure one of us can find it.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2002, 5:30am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/3 "2002-07-22T05:30:44Z")
It is at
[http://www.relativetime.net/blood.fla](http://www.relativetime.net/blood.fla)
There is only one layer with text… that’s the one that is supposed to be fading.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2002, 6:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/4 "2002-07-22T06:24:01Z")
3 Megs for a fading text ? Are you kidding ?
Anyway, there’s a tute on this site [http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/fadingtext.asp](http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx/fadingtext.asp)
And I think the problem is you didn’t turn your text in a clip correctly.
pom :asian:
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/5 "2002-07-23T06:26:50Z")
Well it took me a few hours to figure out but here is the problem. When you typed the word “BOOM” (before converting to a symbol) the “Character Options” were not set to “embed font outlines for all characters” (Maybe someone can explain why this needs to be set this way)
Here is the fix-
1 Retype “BOOM”
2 Chose the “Character” box (located under the “Format” box) in text properties.
3 Chose “All Characters”
Now you can proceed as normal-
4 Convert to Symbol (Graphic)
5 Go to your time line and replace your original "BOOM symbol with the new one. Make sure to replace this symbol in both places on the time line.
6 Change the alpha on the frame that you would like to fade.
That should fix your problem. Keep us updated.
Craig
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/6 "2002-07-23T06:34:02Z")
That worked Craig! Thanks so much.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 23, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/unusual-text-fading-problem/538/7 "2002-07-23T06:40:03Z")
I just found the technical answer to my post above-
By not chosing to “embed font outlines” you were using “device fonts”.
"Device fonts cannot be alpha tweened. A device font used in a symbol can be motion tweened, but any alpha changes applied to the symbol will not display for the device font’s text block. "
[http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/ts/documents/flashfonts.htm](http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/ts/documents/flashfonts.htm)