Flash® Professional CS5 Bible

Chapter 13. Importing Artwork

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Defining vectors and bitmaps

• Knowing the file formats for import to Flash

• Preparing bitmaps

• Importing and copying bitmaps

• Importing sequences

• Setting bitmap properties

• Converting rasters to vectors

• Using external vector graphics

• Importing and copying vector artwork

• Optimizing complex vector artwork

• Introducing XFL: The Flash format of the future

Although Flash gives you powerful options for creating and modifying a variety of graphics, you don't have to limit yourself to the Flash authoring environment. That's because Flash also has the capability of importing artwork from a wide range of sources. You can import both vector and raster graphics, and you can use both formats in a variety of ways.

In this chapter, I discuss the differences between vector graphics and raster or bitmap images. I also show you how to import external artwork so that you can use it in a Flash movie, as well as tell you about the Flash features that you can use to handle imported bitmap images and vector graphics.

I define all the formats that Flash supports and go over some of the issues to consider when preparing artwork for import from various programs. I also introduce some Flash features that are helpful for managing imported assets and give some insight into optimizing your final file size.

Defining Vectors and Bitmaps

In addition to various sound and video formats, Flash supports two types of image formats: vector and bitmap. Vector graphic files consist of an equation ...