Optimizing the resolution and file size of bitmap objects

When an animation is played or saved, LiveMotion renders bitmap objects at screen resolution before applying transformations to them. This poses two potential problems:

• If an animation scales up low-resolution images, results might be unacceptable.
• If the image is much larger or at a higher resolution than you need, it is exported at that large file size, even though it displays at a smaller size. For example, suppose you had a 720-pixel-by-720-pixel image (which would appear as a 10-inch-by-10-inch object in your composition). Even if you displayed it only as a 1-inch-by-1-inch object, the original 10-inch-by-10-inch, 720 pixel-by-720-pixel image file is exported but then displayed at the smaller size.

The solution is to select the point in the animation at which you want the bitmap image to look its best, and then set that point as the render size for the image. LiveMotion then renders the object at screen resolution for this size, even if the object is smaller or larger at a different point in the animation. The benefit is that not only does the image still have a sharp image at the point you select, it also exports the image based on that size, which can greatly reduce the file size.


Sample result if the render size is set at a smaller size: object reduced from 40K to 10K.

Sample result if the render size is set at a larger size: object reduced from 40K to 30K.

To set the render size of an image:

1. In the Timeline window, set the current-time marker to the point in the animation where you want the object to look its best.
2. Select the image object, and choose Object > Transform > Make Actual Size.