Flash export options

When you export artwork to SWF format, you can set the following Basic and Advanced options. You can export multiple artboards to SWF format. For a video on exporting SWF files from Illustrator, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0214. (For a video on importing Illustrator files into Flash, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0197, and for a video on using Flash and Illustrator together, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid4099_xp.)

Before you click Save in the Export dialog box, specify how to export multiple artboards. If you want to export artboards as separate SWF files, select Use Artboards in the Export dialog box. To export only a range of artboards, specify the range. Then click Save and specify the following options:

Preset

Specifies the preset option settings file to use for exporting. If you change the default settings, this option changes to Custom. You can save a custom option settings as a new preset for reuse with other files. To save option settings as a preset, click Save Preset.

Export As

Specifies how to convert Illustrator layers:

AI File To SWF File

Exports the artwork to a single frame. Select this option to preserve layer clipping masks.

AI Layers To SWF Frames

Exports the artwork on each layer to a separate SWF frame, creating an animated SWF.

AI Layers To SWF Files

Exports the artwork on each layer to a separate SWF file. The result is multiple SWF files, each containing a single frame with the artwork from a single Illustrator layer.

AI Layers To SWF Symbols

Converts the artwork on each layer to a symbol and exports it to a single SWF file. AI layers are exported as SWF Movie Clip symbols. The symbols are named using their corresponding layer names. For a video on using symbols effectively between Illustrator and Flash, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0198.

AI Artboards To SWF Files

Exports each of the selected artboards to a separate SWF file. This is the only option available when you choose to preserve multiple artboards in the Save As dialog box. If you save a preset with this option selected, you can use that saved preset only on files with multiple artboards.

Version

Specifies the version of Flash Player for browsing imported files. The Compress File option isn’t available in Flash version 5 and earlier. Dynamic Text and Input Text aren’t available in version 3 and earlier.

Clip To Artboard Size

Exports the Illustrator artwork within the selected artboard’s borders) to the SWF file. Any artwork outside the borders will be clipped off. This option is checked and disabled when exporting multiple artboards.

Preserve Appearance

Select Preserve Appearance to flatten artwork to a single layer before export. Selecting this option limits the editability of the file.

Compress File

Compresses the SWF data, resulting in a smaller file size. Note that Flash players prior to Flash Player 6 can’t open or display compressed files. Don’t use this option if you’re not sure what version of the Flash player the file will be viewed on.

Export Symbols In The Panel

Exports all the symbols in the Symbols panel. If a symbol doesn’t have an active instance in the artwork, the symbol isn’t included in the exported frames; however, it is available for use in the Flash Symbol Library within the Flash Authoring environment.

Export Text As Outlines

Converts type to vector paths. Use this option to preserve the visual appearance of type in all Flash players. If you prefer to have maximum text editing ability, deselect this option. (For a video on using text effectively between Flash and Illustrator, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0199.

Ignore Kerning Information For Text

Exports text without the kerning values.

Include Metadata

Exports the metadata associated with the file. Exported XMP information is minimized to keep file size small. For example, thumbnails aren’t included.

Protect From Import

Prohibits users from modifying the exported SWF file.

Password

Type a password to protect the file from being opened by unauthorized users or in applications other than Adobe Flash.

Curve Quality

Determines the accuracy of the Bezier curves. A lower value decreases the exported file size with a slight loss of curve quality. A higher value increases the accuracy of the Bezier curve reproduction, but results in a larger file size.

Background Color

Specifies a background color for the exported SWF file.

Local Playback Security

Specifies whether you want the file to access only local files or network files during playback.

To specify Advanced options, click Advanced and specify any of the following:

Image Format

Determines how the artwork is compressed. Lossless compression maintains the highest image quality but creates a large SWF file. Lossy (JPEG) compression creates a smaller SWF file but adds artifacts to the image. Select Lossless if you intend to continue to work on the file (or files) in Flash; select Lossy if you’re exporting the final SWF file.

JPEG Quality

Specifies the amount of detail in the exported image. The higher the quality, the larger the file size. (This option is available only if you choose Lossy compression.)

Method

Specifies the type of JPEG compression that is used. Baseline (Standard) applies the standard type of compression, while Baseline Optimized applies additional optimization. (These options are available only if you choose Lossy compression.)

Resolution

Adjusts the screen resolution for bitmap images. Resolution for exported SWF files can be 72 to 600 pixels per inch (ppi). Higher resolution values result in better image quality but larger file sizes.

Frame Rate

Specifies the rate at which the animation will be played in Flash Player. (This option is available only for AI Layers To SWF Frames.)

Looping

Causes the animation to loop continuously, rather than play once and then stop, when played in Flash Player. (This option is available only for AI Layers To SWF Frames.)

Animate Blends

Specifies whether or not to animate blended objects. Selecting this option produces the same results as manually releasing blended objects to layers before you export. Blends are always animated from start to end irrespective of the layer order.

If you select Animate Blends, select a method for exporting the blend:

In Sequence

Exports each object in the blend to a separate frame in the animation.

In Build

Builds up a cumulative sequence of objects in the animation frames. For example, the bottommost object in the blend appears in each of the frames, and the topmost object in the blend appears only in the last frame.

Layer Order

Determines the timeline of the animation. Select Bottom Up to export layers starting with the bottommost layer in the Layers panel. Select Top Down to export layers starting with the topmost layer in the Layers panel. (This option is available only for AI Layers To SWF Frames.)

Export Static Layers

Specifies one or more layers or sublayers to be used as static content in all the exported SWF Frames. Content from the selected layers or sublayers will be present as background art in every exported SWF frame. (This option is only available for AI Layers To SWF Frames.)