Inside Flash MX (2nd Edition) (Inside (New Riders))

You aren't limited to using only the graphics you create in Flash in your movies; you also can import a wide variety of graphic formats. Table 5.1 lists the standard file types you can import for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.

Table 5.1. Standard File Types of Flash 5 Imports

Format File

Extension

Platform

Adobe Illustrator 6.0 or earlier

.eps, .ai

Both

AutoCad DXF

.dxf

Both

FreeHand

.fh7 “.fh9

Both

FutureSplash

.spl

Both

GIF and animated GIF

.gif

Both

JPEG

.jpg

Both

PNG

.png

Both

Flash Player

.swf

Both

Bitmap

.bmp

Windows

Enhanced Windows Metafile

.emf

Windows

PICT

.pct, pic

Macintosh

If you have QuickTime 4 (http://www.quicktime.com/) or later installed, you also can import the formats in Table 5.2 for either platform.

Table 5.2. Formats Flash 5 Imports with QuickTime Installed

Format File

Extension

Platform

MacPaint

.pntg

Both

Photoshop

.psd

Both

PICT (for Windows as bitmap)

.pct, pic

Both

QuickTime Image

.qtif

Both

QuickTime Movie

.mov

Both

Silicon Graphics

.sai

Both

TGA

.tfg

Both

TIFF

.tiff, .tif

Both

That's a lot of potential formats to work with. No matter what type of graphics you use in a Flash movie, you need to understand how to optimize your graphics to keep your file size low and your playback fast.

In this chapter, you'll take a look at the following:

  • Optimizing bitmaps for use in Flash. You learn the tips and tricks that help you make the best use of bitmaps in Flash.

  • Converting bitmaps to vector graphics. Sometimes, you can keep your file size small by converting bitmaps to vector graphics. You learn what types of bitmaps lend themselves to this type of treatment.

  • Monitoring memory and CPU usage. When you start combining bitmap and vector graphics, you need to pay special attention to how your movie is affecting memory and CPU usage. You learn how to monitor your CPU usage and modify your files to improve performance.

  • Importing vector graphics from other programs. Learn how to import SWF files that are created in third-party programs.

  • Importing artwork from Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia FreeHand. Illustrator and FreeHand both produce vector graphics that you easily can import into Flash. You learn the ins and outs of importing graphics from these two programs.

  • Using the Bandwidth Profiler and Size Report. Learn how the Bandwidth Profiler and Size Report can help you pin down potential trouble spots in the playback of your movie.

You begin by taking a look at how you can optimize bitmaps for use in Flash.

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