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 any resolution 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 an animation. (See Drawing with symbols.) You can save artwork in SWF format using the Export command or the Save for Web command. Options in the Export dialog box give you more control over bitmap compression options, while options in the Save For Web dialog box give you more control over the mix of SWF and bitmap formats in a sliced layout. Although the Save For Web dialog box doesn't let you set the Image options that are available for the Export (SWF) command, the Save For Web command does use the Export command's last used settings. For information on using the Export command to create SWF files, see Macromedia Flash format (SWF); for the Save for Web command, see Optimization options for SWF format. 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.
- Using the Symbol Stainer and Symbol Styler tools results in larger SWF files because Illustrator must create a copy of each symbol instance to maintain their appearances.
- To keep the file size as small as possible when using symbols, apply effects to the symbol in the Symbols palette rather than to symbol instances in your artwork. (See Redefining symbols.)
- 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.
- If a bitmap object extends beyond the boundaries of a slice, the entire object is included in the exported file.
- 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.
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