Re: FLASH: jpeg Compression ? and Flash

[Marc Hoffman, Poison Dart Frog Media]

Okay, let's start to make some sense out of all of this.


First, there's a confusion of terms. When Ken referred to importing 

bitmaps, he meant the Windows .bmp format, not the generic term "bitmap" 

which includes any raster (pixel-based) image, nor the Photoshop "bitmap" 

which is a 2-bit, black-and white image.


Second, when using images in Flash4, you have an option to export them (in 

the .swf) in the imported format ("lossless") or to use Flash to compress 

them. With jpegs, there's an option to use the original jpeg compression. 

I'm not sure whether Flash does a better or worse job than image-optimizing 

programs such as Fireworks or ImageReady. What I do know is that jpeg 

compression is "lossy," meaning every time you open and resave it as a 

jpeg, it loses quality. If you import a jpeg to Flash, retain the 

compression, and then ADD Flash's compression, it will degrade the image, 

which is a problem that a lot of Flash designers bring to this list.


So your best options are either do your jpeg compression before import, in 

which case you should tell Flash to "use original compression" (or however 

it's worded); or else import a "lossless" format such as .bmp, .gif, .pict, 

or .png, and then decide whether to compress or not, using Flash. I have 

had good results using Flash to compress .bmp files, reducing them to under 

2% of the original size.


Lastly, when working with raster images, start with an image at least as 

large as the final version -- quality will degrade if you have to scale it 

larger. If scaling it smaller, do this in Photoshop or another quality 

imaging program, before importing to Flash.




At 11:46 AM 3/2/00 , you wrote:



> >> I am curious about compression settings and Flash.

> >>

> >> I try to reduce all my images before importing them into Flash.

>

>

>

> > Do not compress images nor sounds before importing into Flash. Use

> > bitmaps for images rather than jpeg or gif, if possible.

> >

> > Allow *Flash* to manage/control the compression.

> >

> > HTH,

> >

> > Ken Sherwood

>

>Now I'm really confused... Are you sure about this? I have "read" elsewhere

>(sorry, don't have the post to quote) that Flash does a lousy job with

>compression. It was suggested to do compression in a program that handles it

>better.. such as Imageready or Fireworks, then tell Flash to use the

>imported image data on export (image property settings in the library).

>

>Also... why would you want to convert images to "bitmap" over using JPEG

>unless you want a certain effect? Isn't the compression and quality better

>using JPEG?

>

>(Unless of course you want your image to have only black and white values,

>but then it should be traced and converted to vector instead...)

>

>

>--

>Alan Wilson

>Lightstorm Studios

>Freelance Image Design

>

mailto: lightstormjps [dot] net

>

>

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Marc Hoffman


Poison Dart Frog Media: Specializing in Flash Animation and Digital Audio 

Production

Our latest Flash job is on display at <http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/rickfrnd>

See our Flash portfolio at <http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/portfolio>

(featured in Flash 3 Web Animation, by Ken Milburn)



flasher is generously supported by...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     flashforward2000 and The Flash Film Festival

  "The World�s Premier Flash Solutions Conference and Expo"

 March 27-29, Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco, California


-Register before Feb 25 and save $200!!-- www.flashforward2000.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To unsubscribe or change your list settings go to

http://www.chinwag.com/flasher or email

helpchinwag [dot] com