I've made some images in Fireworks....which contains only one layer. Which format would be better to import to Flash? Png or Gif? It seems that "Gif" file has smaller size, is it?
Here are the up and downsides of the three main graphics formats:
GIF
pro - good for line art and graphics, small file size, support transparent areas.
con - not good for photos as limited to 256 colours, transparent areas can have a jagged 'halo' as transparency is on or off for each pixel rather than smoothly blended out.
JPEG
pro - great for photos
con - looks blurred and blocky on graphics/areas of flat colour (use gif for this), no transparency support, pixelates badly at high compression settings
PNG
pro - great transparency support with smooth alpha blends, supports many more colours than gif. A bit like a 'super gif'. Also supports layers/masks etc like a photoshop file.
con - file size much greater than gif or jpeg for the same image.
When file size is really important (like, always...) I avoid PNG files although they're really convenient and sometimes they're the only option if you have a graphic with an area than fades out to transparent.
If I have a graphic with an odd shaped (but sharp edged) outline or 'holes' in it that would usually call for a PNG to be used I export the image as a gif or jpeg then apply a shaped mask to it in Flash which is a more file size efficient method.
Wow, that answer took longer than I thought it would.
I feel very beneficial to read your "tutorial" on graphics. I like the idea of applying a shaped mask to a sharp edged graphic in flash!! Thank you very much! I definitely think I learned A LOT in this forum, and it almost becomes my "job aid"..
Hi, xutopia
Thanks for posting the second edition of web style guide..I read the 1st edition more than two years ago, and it was impressive...I guess it's time for me to refresh and learn more now!
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