Optimizing Flash Files
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
We all want our files to download instantly and if not instantly at least quickly. The main reason why Flash has been so successful is because you can create files that are programmable, with stunning quality graphics that download quickly.
Flash is designed to create small sleek download files. The more aware you are of how Flash compresses files and the tools available to help you achieve this, the sleeker and meaner your Flash Movies will be.
Some basic best practices while working in flash files:
1. Start your project with a frame rate of 10 to 15 fps
2. Unlike a bitmap the size (in pixels) of a Vector image does not increase file size!
3. Vector images are things, which have been drawn in Flash or a Graphics program such as Freehand, Illustrator or CorelDraw. Vector images are almost always small file sizes.
4. If a certain graphic element is used in a clip more than once, make it a symbol.
5. Once a Symbol is downloaded, you can use it as many times as you want with no extra cost in download time.
6. Graphic objects having a complex border should be optimized using the menu option Modify > Curves > Optimize (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C).
7. Use the Free Transform tool to change an Instance’s shape or the Property Inspector to change its color or transparency (alpha).
8. Use the button marked “Smooth,” positioned in the lower part of the instrument panel and in the upper part of the graphics menu.
9. A flash file can get slower because of importing a raster-based graphic image.
10. As a general rule of thumb, pictures that have a lot of texture in them (such as photos) are better saved as Jpegs.
11. Pictures, which have large areas of continuous color (such as graphics) are better saved as gifs.
12. A Jpeg/gif picture file can be opened in Photoshop or some other picture editor to reduce the file size and can be resized there.
13. It is better to compress images individually before you import them into Flash.
14. Fine tune the relationship between quality and volume of every imported raster graphic.
15. To optimize sound use MP3 compression.
16. Avoid translating text objects into graphic form.
17. While using the text field, choose your font and options Outlines with an artistic eye and designate the basic font to text fields.
18. When choosing font settings for the clip, give preference to a font style having the simplest pattern of symbols.
19. Simultaneously when exporting a clip, make a report and carefully study it for hang-ups.
20. A lower frame rate will also lead to a smaller file size. Each key frame of a symbol adds 12 bytes to a SWF movie. This may not sound like much, but it sure can add up, especially in the case of animations.
21. Place your artwork in symbols rather than on the main Timeline or in groups.
22. Optimize the symbols by selecting Modify > Shape > Optimize or by hand with the sub selection tool.
23. Remove unnecessary points, and any hidden shapes and symbols. This can be tedious work, but it will make the content look and perform better, and it will reduce the SWF file size.
24. Do not over do animation. Simplify your animations. Do not have too many things going on at the same time.
25. Avoid performance killers such as alpha transparencies and gradients. They create a better-looking animation, but they also affect performance.
26. Simpler graphics will often look better and perform better.
27. Avoid pans and alpha fades. Short (five-frame) fades over a static background may work just fine.
28. If possible, work only with shapes and remove lines including outlines around shapes. Lines are more complex to render for Flash and thus slower.
29. In the Publish Settings there is an option for Flash to create a size report, which gives you all sorts of useful information.
30. It is always better to have a pre-loader that tells the viewer how long they have to wait to start the flash file running.
All of the above applies to desktop animations and when creating animations for mobile devices. You will run quickly into problems when you ignore these.