Issues on building up SWFs

#1

Well, I’d like to discuss a few problems I’ve been having, especially when using graphics from Photoshop importing into Flash (MX):

First of all, it seems that nudging graphics is relative to the zoom level at what you’re viewing symbols in flash. For instance, if you’re working at 400% zoom and nudge a graphic once to the right you’re moving it less distance that you’d do if you nudged it at 100%. Getting elements to line up having to zoom into the same level all the time is quite a pain :shrug: anyone know of anything to get around this?

Another thing is I’m using say a GIF as a background for a flash menu. When I view it in the workspace it has its original sharpness but when I test it it seems to smooth it out losing lots of detail even though I seem to have turned SMOOTHING off, etc… Any help on this?

The last issue is importing files for use in the workspace. Flash lists tons of file formats including PSDs but it always give me and error for this format and a few others. The workaround? Export layers to Illustrator, have to resize the object PERFECTLY which is near impossible and then export as an SWF because that keeps transparency. As you would have guessed, taking a graphic through 3 full programs makes it lose heeps of quality. Does anyone know how to import PSDs correctly into Flash MX?

Carl :beer:

#2

  1. Try view>snap to pixels

  2. Open the library and edit an images properties / attributes. I have forgotten exactly what it is called. In tehre you should find a few options relevant to your problem. Also in the export settings you should find a slider that compresses img’s into jpg, try changing that if the previous step fails.

  3. I have personally never tried it that way. I just always do it the manual hard work way, cutting out elements and saving as seperate images and then importing manually. However now that you mention it there is certainly room for improvement between getting your concepts from photoshop into Flash. I’ll investigate the import *psd function…

I Hope that helps.

#3

Thanks for your help!

Originally posted by Ian Jones
3. I have personally never tried it that way. I just always do it the manual hard work way, cutting out elements and saving as seperate images and then importing manually.

What do you mean by that? You cut out the images in photoshop or what is it you do? What file type do you save the images in? I’m particularly interested in importing PSDs to keep transparency of various graphics so I can preserve it in flash and move it around as an individual element.

Carl :beer:

#4

Your GIF-problem:
Same here with Flash 5. The problem is related to the web-plugin and it seems that it hasn’t been fixed, yet - even in the latest version. Maybe it’s impossible to use bitmap-graphics as a background in flash files.
I’ve also done something similar, a logo with moving vector bubbles in front of it. The bubbles seem to destroy the bitmap background and leave some oddities.
Since that I try to avoid using bitmap graphics in flash files.

#5

When building things in Photoshop I usually save them as a .PNG file and then you can control the properties in FLASH. Also do not adjust the image properties!! Go into the Publish Setting then flash then control the .jpg level for out put. If you adjust the level with each image flash will then adjust it again before putting out to the .swf .

#6

webguy beat me to it :slight_smile: i always import as PNG into flash for anything pixel-based, they have an alpha channel you can use for any transparency you may have. then, as he said, just adjust your JPG compression settings to control your final file size.

you also might check out using the align palette (ctrl-k) for getting things to line up correctly, or just use your info palette and place things at the same pixel positions.

#7

if its standard desktop colour depth, always use PNG…GIF and flash do not mix in alot of ways so best to always avoid it… and only use jpg for when the its a very high colur depth

#8

Nobody experienced, what I did? I also used a PNG-graphic for this logo thing but the vector animation on top of that leaves some odd trails and corrupts the bitmap… :shrug:
Any solutions for that?

#9

Tommi, I did this quick test and no problems found using my machine… it’s a 24bit .PNG graphic with bubbles using a 3 colour radial gradient with alpha being set within the fill panel…

Hope this helps ya

Bubble test

#10

It’s a few months ago and maybe I’m wrong with the bitmap file format I used, but can that depend on the file format? Which version of Flash do you use?

#11

Version of Flash was MX, I did notice you said you used 5 but I can’t see why you got that problem ???

1 thing you could try tho’ is breaking the bitmap on the background, select the bitmap and it should show a grey border around the image then press ctrl+b and give that a blast…

#12

Okay, I’m going to do that! Thanks!

#13

CarlCampbell: I do the same as the ppl above. I use transparent *.png images.

#14

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