# Step 1: Add the First Color Transform Element

To change the color of a drawing or image element over time, you attach it to a Color Transform element and then use this element to specify how the colors in the elements attached to it will change.

During the cross-dissolve you will create, two drawings will appear at the same time, one fades in while the other fades out. To achieve this effect, we placed each drawing in a separate element layer so that you can control them independently. You’ll see as we progress through the lesson how this enables you to create cross-dissolves.

To add the first color transform element:

1. Click the Add button at the top of the Timeline window. The New Elements dialog box opens.

2. Enter information about the element in the New Elements dialog box:

- From the Type menu, select Color Transform Effect.
- In the Name field, type skateColor and click OK. A new element layer appears in the Timeline window.

3. In the element list on the left-side of the Timeline window, attach the Color Transform-skateColor element to the SkatePeg2 element by dragging and dropping it just below the peg.

4. Attach the sk_2 element to the Transform-skateColor element by dragging and dropping it on top of the effects element.

5. Change the start and duration of the Transform-skateColor element so that it matches the start and duration of the sk_2 element.

- Double-click the trackbar of the Transform-skateColor element to select it and drag it to frame 12.

- Drag the end of the trackbar so that it ends on the same frame as the sk_2 element (frame 20).

6. Select File > Save to save your animation set.