GIFs or JPEGS or what?!

[pagetta]

I haven't used flash in ages and have to create a simple animation for our new website.

I am having problems.

We are using our logo in the animation, which I save as a gif. I want it to be a large logo, which then shrinks and moves to a corner. However when I shrink it it distorts horribly. What format should I save it in?

I also want words moving around. when I write the words in flash then make them a movie clip, I can't get the alpha value settings to show when the movie's exported, but when I import gifs of the words from photoshop, they too distort when the movie is published.

What file formats should I use for things like this - what is the best method to use to get a really smart movie clip without it distorting all my words - agh! thanks!

[MarcGrobman]

Hiya,

Flash is a vector based format. So, when possible, you should use a vector based version of your logo. It probably started out that way at some point but many people don't have access to to them any more! So you need it in Illustrator or as an EPS doc.

It is not very easy to convert back to vector if you don't have a really good high-res version. Sometimes you can luck out though and have one that is easy to convert. Flash has a cool 'trace bitmap' function that will trace your imported graphic. First you use "ctrl B" to break the image out of its group. Then try using 'trace bitmap' at various settings. Also, after converting, try cleaning it up and optimizing it or you could end up with a HUGE file.

You can use gifs and jpgs or cut and paste from photoshop, but it will not resize well.

[MarcGrobman]

Flash uses vector graphics best -- not bit maps. Start with Illustrator or EPS documents if you have them.

Flash also has a cool 'trace bitmap' feature to create a vector graphic, but it is not very reliable and can produce HUGE files. Be sure to optimize and images after using 'trace bitmap.'

Gifs, JPGs, TIFF or just copying and pasting from photoshop are fine -- they just won't scale well and will be converted to JPEGs by Flash.

[darenthomas]

Originally Posted by pagetta

I also want words moving around. when I write the words in flash then make them a movie clip, I can't get the alpha value settings to show when the movie's exported, but when I import gifs of the words from photoshop, they too distort when the movie is published.

are U making run time clips or author time clips drawn on the TL?

also, when working w/ text, many times it's easier to break apart the text (twice), save it as clip, and then work w/ it as a shape---- granted you can't then edit the text directly but you can save various text clips inside a parent clip and call to each text grouping individually as needed, to tween letters & sentences for "flying text "effects