By default, the Flash uses "Merge Drawing" model, that is every new stroke or shape you create merges into the previous strokes and becomes an integral part of the existing image. However, in Flash 8, there is an alternative to this "natural" order of things.

§ 1. In the Tools panel select the Oval Tool. Define fill and stroke color and drag over your previous strokes.

§ 2. Activate the Selection Tool.

§ 3. Pull the created shape aside as it is shown in the movie. As result, the image is torn or deformed, because the both parts of the oval - fill and outline - were merged into the earlier strokes.

§ 4. Press [Ctrl+Z] several times to undo the changes. Let's try another drawing method.

§ 5. Activate the Oval Tool again. In the tool options, enable the "Object Drawing" model.

§ 6. Drag over the image. The blue frame around the created shape tells us that we can reposition it with the Selection Tool without damaging the previous strokes.

§ 7. The existing merged strokes also can be converted to a drawing object. Click on a shape that you want to convert with the Selection Tool - its surface becomes "dotted" indicating selected area. Then hold down [Shift] key and click on some other shape to add it to selection.

§ 8. Pull down menu "Modify > Combine Objects > Union". Ready!

When you enable the Object Drawing model, it applies to all the drawing and painting tools. Every new stroke creates a new drawing object. On the one hand, it allows us to secure drawn objects. On the other hand, adding 20 strokes to an existing object creates 20 new objects. Imagine handling 200-300 separate objects on your stage! Fortunately, there is a better solution.

§ 9. Double-click an object with the Selection Tool - all the document outside the selected object fades out. It is a special editing mode - all your changes only affect the current drawing object.

§ 10. In the Toolbox, select a drawing or painting tool, disable the Object Drawing model (A drawing object may not contain nested objects!) and edit your shape.

§ 11. When finished, click the "Back" arrow or "Scene 1" link at the top to return to the "document editing" mode.