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Creating Web graphics with SWF


    The Macromedia® Flash (SWF) file format is a vector-based graphics file format for the creation of scalable, compact graphics for the Web. Since the file format is vector-based, the artwork maintains its image quality at different resolutions and is ideal for the creation of animation frames. In Illustrator, you can create individual animation frames on layers and then export the image layers into individual frames for use on a Web site. You can also define graphic elements called symbols in your Illustrator file. When exported, each symbol is defined only once in the SWF file; therefore, using symbols can greatly reduce the size of a animation. (See Working with symbols.)

    You can save artwork in SWF format using the Export command and the Save for Web command. (See Exporting artwork in SWF format and Optimizing images.) Keep the following in mind when preparing artwork to be saved in SWF format:

    • To create an animated SWF, place each animation frame on a separate Illustrator layer, and choose the AI Layers to SWF Frames option when you export the artwork.
    • Transparency effects such as blending modes and opacity masks are not exported into the SWF format. If you wish to maintain the appearance of a transparency effect, flatten the transparency of the art before exporting to SWF format. (See Changing the display of transparent artwork.)
    • Using the symbol stainer tool and symbol styler tool results in larger SWF files.
    • Mesh objects and gradients with more than eight stops are rasterized and will appear as bitmap-filled shapes. Gradients with fewer than eight stops are exported as gradients.
    • Patterns are rasterized into small images the size of the pattern art and tiled to fill the art.
    • Only rounded caps or joins are supported in SWF format. Beveled or square caps and joins are converted to rounded when exported to SWF format.
    • Pattern-filled text and pattern-filled strokes are converted to paths and filled with the pattern.
    • Although text retains many of its features when exported to SWF format, some information is lost. When importing the SWF file into Macromedia Flash, leading, kerning, and tracking are not maintained. Instead, the text is broken up into separate records to simulate the look of leading. When the SWF file is subsequently played in a Macromedia Flash player, the appearance of the leading, kerning, and tracking in the file is maintained. If you wish to export text as paths, convert the text to outlines before exporting to SWF format, using the Create Outlines command.