Bitmaps Lecture Notes -

Objective #1: Be able to import & use bitmap graphics.

• Use the File/Import menu command to import a bitmap graphic into Flash. The graphic becomes an element of the Library when it has been imported.
• Importing bitmap graphics will increase the file size of a Flash movie. However, drawing graphics with the Flash Drawing tools will create vector objects and help keep the file size small.
• When importing a PNG file from Macromedia Fireworks, you can choose to import the graphic with layers or as a flattened image
• When importing a Photoshop bitmap graphic, you can control the size, compression, and anti-aliasing (smoothing) of the the graphic.
• You can delete unused elements from your Library before you publish a movie.

Objective #2: Be able to break apart bitmaps and use bitmap fills.

• You can convert a bitmap graphic to a vector object by tracing it or by breaking it apart. After a bitmap has been broke apart, the Selection Tool will only select color areas.
• You can use a bitmap graphic as a fill. First, you break apart the bitmap image and then use the Eyedropper Tool to apply it as a fill to another object (such as a shape). The graphic may have to be tiled inside of large objects that is being used to fill.
• You can use the Color Mixer panel to select a bitmap image as fill. In this case, you don't have to break it apart first.
• You can use the Fill Transform tool to manipulate (i.e. scale, rotate, etc.) a fill.
• You can use the Paintbrush Tool to apply bitmap graphic as a fill. Break it apart, select it with the Eyedropper Tool and then select the Paintbrush Tool to apply the bitmap as a fill to another object.

Objective #3: Be able to trace bitmap graphics.

• Use the Modify/Trace Bitmap menu command to turn a bitmap graphic into a vector object. You can use the Color Threshold, Minimum Area, Curve Fit, and Corner Threshold settings to achieve the level of detail or lack of detail in the traced bitmap graphic.
  • Color Threshold (1 to 200) - the lower the number, the more colors Flash will see and reproduce. If the number is too low, the traced bitmap may result in having a larger file size than the original bitmap.
  • Minimum Area (1 to 1000) - how large an area Flash will consider when making color calculations
  • Curve Fit - controls smoothness of the contours around shapes
  • Corner Threshold - determines whether Flash will create sharp or smooth corners