Macromedia Flash 4 & 5 Tips - Page 6

Optimization

Straighten and Smooth

As well as offering vector tools, keeping your file sizes low is the very point of using Flash and it's equipped with myriad features for achieving this. One of the chief reasons for over-size Flash files is curves that are too complex. like FreeHand, Flash has Straighten and Smooth commands in the Modify menu. It also has an Optimize command, which reduces the number of curves in a shape, hardly affecting the look at all.

Optimize

Initially, use the Optimize command, set Smoothing to Max and tick the Multiple Passes box. This makes the smallest file, and you can often reduce a shape's maths by 40 or so per cent. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out this means your drawing will download almost twice as quickly, thus making your user a happier person. If the results aren't right, you go back with the Undo.

Combining commands

Combine the Straighten and Smooth commands with the Optimize to iron out unnecessary kinks and curves. You may get an even better result, in looks and file size.

Group shapes

Avoid using gradients, since these take up more bytes and convert shapes that you want to use more than once into symbols (hit F8); Flash only needs to store this info once if you do this.