Importing Vector Graphics

Many graphics programs are capable of exporting in the SWF format, either natively or with the help of a plug-in. For a list of third-party programs that can export in the SWF format, see Appendix C, "Flash Resources." You can import those SWF files just like you would any other graphic. After an SWF is imported, it can be left as is or broken apart and further modified inside Flash.

There are a few things you need to know about importing SWF files that might not be intuitively obvious. Because of the way SWF files are compressed, not all elements of the original file can be extracted from an SWF. This holds true for SWF files created both in Flash and in other programs. Some of the things you need to be aware of include these:

• When you import an SWF file, you lose all the layers of the original FLA file everything is reduced to one layer.

• Any symbols in the movie are converted to graphic symbols and you lose all the symbol names . The symbols are named Symbol 1, Symbol 2, and so on.

• The tweens from the original FLA files are converted to frame-by-frame animations. That means that you lose any motion paths you originally set up; the frame-by-frame animation follows the original motion path, but the path itself is gone.

• You lose any sounds that were in the SWF file.

• Any graphic symbol animations, tweened or otherwise , are converted to frame-by-frame animations.

• Only the first frame of any movie clips appears. The rest of the movie clip time-line is ignored; hence, you lose any animation or interactivity in the movie clip.

• You can break apart and modify any of the graphics in the imported SWF.

Now that you know what will be preserved and what won't, try importing an SWF file and modifying it inside Flash. (See Exercise 5.3.)

Exercise 5.3 Importing an SWF File

The file you are going to import was created in Swift 3D and exported as an SWF without any shading.

1. Create a new movie. Choose File > Import and browse to the Chapter_05/Assets folder. Select camero.swf from the file list and click OK.

2. Flash imports the SWF and creates a series of keyframes for each frame in the SWF file.

3. To break one of the images up so that it can be modified in Flash, select the image and choose Modify > Break Apart.

4. To break apart all the images, first select all the frames. Then select the Modify Multiple Frames icon. Drag the Start and End Onion Skin handles until all the frames are showing. Either drag a marquee around all the shapes or choose Modify > Select All to select all the shapes in all the frames. Choose Modify > Break Apart. (See Figure 5.8.)

   Figure 5.8. You can break all your frames apart at one time by using the Modify Multiple Frames option. Just make sure that the Start and End Onion Skin handles are in the proper place.

   

If you want to take a look at importing a more complex file that was created natively in Flash, try importing subculture.fla from the Chapter_05/Assets folder. You'll be taking a very close look at that file later in this chapter and getting a good feel for what is lost and what is preserved.

You also can import vector artwork that's been created in other programs but not converted into the SWF format.