Objects That Morph

A morphed object is a blend between two different objects; it could be defined as the hybrid of two objects, but for the purposes of digital cartography an object that morphs is one that transforms into a different object. In Adobe Flash, this morphing effect is called shape tweening.
When I first heard the words "object that morphs", my first thought was of those commercials I used to see where people kept morphing into each other, with an effect sort of like this (no political assertions intended). Of course, cartographers are often going for a different effect, but such a morph is possible (and easy!) in Flash.
Like motion tweening, shape tweening is a change made to an object during its appearance in a movie. While motion tweening changes an object's position in the image, shape tweening changes (surprise!) the shape of the object itself, morphing it into a different object. The possibilities with this tool are great, it's especially useful for maps that must convey change over time (like lab 6)!

Shape Tweening: A Handholder's Guide

This is a step-by-step illustrated walkthrough of how to achieve shape tweening in Flash. It explains what shape tweening is and has instructions on how to morph text, bitmap images, and basic shapes. It doesn't get more basic than this, and morphing text and bitmap images might be a fancy trick to learn for one's final project...
I know that this isn't an example of a map, but it is an example of certain types of shape tweening, and certainly does give one creative ideas.

Alexander the Great's Empire

In this map, the arrow is an example of an object that morphs. The arrow grows larger with each passing frame. This map shows the route of Alexander the Great at his peak, until his death. This is also an example of basic shape morphing, while the simplest it can be utilized quite elegantly.
Note: I picked this map from a list of many, these maps are mostly all about layering though (source).

The Imperial History of the Middle East

Ok, so we've seen maps from this site in class, but we didn't discuss the elements of morphing in this one. This map is a terrific example of shape tweening, the way a circle starts out in the center of a territory and fills out the shape of the land. It's a very elegant (if slow) map, concentrating more on style than useful information, but doesn't it impress? It's an impact map.

City of Baghdad CE 750-1400

White represents officially settled areas, red is settlements and blue is abandonment. This map is another fantastic example of shape tweening (using basic shapes as in the map above) but does so in a dynamic and intuitive manner that shows the certain years when settlement boomed, and the years when growth slowed to a crawl. Once again, shape tweening saved the day on a map that had to convey time.


As for tips on the matter, the only problem with shape tweening that I've had is biting off more than I can chew. It's easy to get carried away with all the possibilities this tool has, and I found myself trying to accomplish too great a task for the time at hand. Also, don't micromanage. Motion and shape tweening were designed to be intuitive and easy to use, Flash knows what it's doing.

In summation, morphing objects is a unique ability that has given digital maps an indisputable advantage over static images. They can accurately portray events over a timeline in a clear and aesthetically pleasing manner, as seen in the examples above. The ability to morph an object in an easy, straightforward manner (like in Flash) nurtures creativity, the only lesson one needs is the basics.