Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Killer Tips

After you have a bitmap image imported into your document, you may realize that it needs some touching up. As you know, Flash cannot edit raster images itself. The cool thing is that it can call on another program such as Photoshop or Fireworks to do the editing for it.

Locate any bitmap in your Library or on the Stage, right-click it, and choose Edit with.... You'll be asked to locate the program with which you want to do the editing, and the specified program will automatically be opened with the bitmap ready for changes. When you're done, save the changes and return to Flash. You'll find that the changes you made are automatically updated in your document.

If you have Fireworks installed, then you can save even more time by clicking Edit with Fireworks instead of Edit with, and Fireworks will be opened, making the process much easier. Hmmm, Fireworks deals with Flash much better than other applications. I wonder if it's because Macromedia makes both applications. Nah, that can't be it.