Optimisation of FLA files Overview

The traditional approach to information is in the form of graphics and text. These are downloaded completely before they can be viewed, then fed into your browser and slapped on the screen. Flash works differently, you can choose to preload all, some or stream your movie, so in this tutorial we will be examining FLA optimisation in three parts:

• Design Considerations


• Importing Images and Sounds


• The Final Analysis - Reporting Aids

Streaming involves sustaining a continuous connection of sorts, much like TV or listening to the radio, you receive the images or audio just before you see or hear them. This gives you the ability to recieve large files which can be viewed as they arrive. Thus the file size is less of an issue.

But not completely forgotten. The raw file sizes for digital video and audio are massive, so compression is employed to make it viable for LANs and modems which results in levels of degredation in quality. A classic case of wanting a cake and trying to eat it too, you simply can't have it both ways.

Flash enables you to stream data across the web. So when developing streaming media ensure you develop it for your slowest user (28.8K). It may look great when pumped through a ISDN cable but if you want mass appeal consider the fella down the road who couldn't upgrade a modem to save his life!

If you are after a top example of streaming media checkout this site, K*GRIND. Now that's art!!

Now that you have a grasp of streaming in Flash let's have a look at some of the design considerations.