Adobe 12040118 Tutorial - Page 599

which items in the composition are unsupported. The exported SWF file includes each unchanged item in the After Effects composition once, and then references it for each use. If a layer is used in multiple frames, each use refers to the same object, even if the layer's transform properties (such as Position) are animated. However, if the content of the layer changes-for example, if a mask on the layer is animated or if the source footage item for the layer is video-a new object is created for each frame in which the layer is visible. If multiple layers in the composition share the same source footage item, the source is added once and is then referenced for every additional layer that shares the source. If the source is an Illustrator file, a SWF movie clip is created and referenced. Text characters are added as vectors once and then referenced on all subsequent frames, unless you choose Fill Over Stroke from the Fill And Stroke options menu; in that case, the characters are added as vectors on every frame. Note: If color management is enabled for the project, then colors are converted from the working color space of the project to the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 color space for output. This output color space is appropriate for movies shown in a web browser. (See Color management.) 1. Select the composition you want to export, and then choose File > Export > Adobe Flash Player (SWF). 2. Enter a filename (making sure to include the .swf extension) and location, and then click Save. 3. Specify options as appropriate, and then click OK. Chris Jackson provides tips for rendering and exporting SWF files from After Effects in an excerpt from his book Flash + After Effects on the Focal Press website. SWF export settings JPEG Quality Specifies the quality of rasterized images. The higher the quality, the larger the file. (If you select Rasterize for Unsupported Features, the JPEG Quality setting is used for all JPEG-compressed bitmap images exported to the SWF file, including bitmap images generated from composition frames or Adobe Illustrator files.) Unsupported Features Specifies whether to rasterize features that SWF format doesn't support. Choose Ignore to exclude unsupported features, or choose Rasterize to render all frames that contain unsupported features as JPEG-compressed bitmap images and include them in the SWF file. If you choose Rasterize, the SWF exporter rasterizes source files for each layer in the composition (except layers that use Illustrator files or solids as the source footage) and nested compositions with Collapse Transformations enabled. Audio Bit Rate The bit rate of the exported audio. Choose Auto to get the lowest bit rate available for the specified Sample Rate and Channels settings. Higher bit rates increase file size. Audio in a SWF file is in MP3 format. Loop Continuously Specifies that the exported SWF file loops continuously during playback. If you plan to specify looping by writing HTML code to control Flash Player, deselect Loop Continuously. Prevent Editing Creates a SWF file that can't be modified by applications such as Flash Professional. Include Object Names Includes layer, mask, and effect names in the file, for use as input to ActionScript programs. Selecting this option increases file size. Rasterized objects are not named. Each mask is exported as a separate SWF object, the name of which is the layer name followed by the mask name. If all masks use Difference mode, all masks are exported as one SWF object, and the name is the layer name. Each text character is exported as a separate SWF object. Flatten Illustrator Artwork Splits all overlapping objects into non-overlapping pieces. When you select this option, you don't need to convert Illustrator text to outlines before exporting. (This option supports source files from Illustrator 9.0 or later.) Flattening Illustrator artwork has advantages and disadvantages. When you flatten Illustrator artwork, text is exported to SWF format properly, so you don't need to convert text to outlines. Overlapping objects are removed, so composited layers appear the same in both After Effects and the SWF file. End caps, joins, and transparency groups are exported properly, and artwork outside crop marks, which is not visible in the SWF file, is not included. However, SWF files don't necessarily become smaller. In addition, the flattening process may introduce unsupported objects that are then ignored or rasterized, and white fringes may appear around some objects. The process can be slow, memory-intensive, and possibly ineffective for complex Illustrator artwork. Include Layer Marker Web Links Makes layer markers behave as web links. The Include Layer Marker Web Links option adds web links and a Get URL action to the SWF file by using information from layer markers. This option also adds a frame label to each SWF frame that has a layer marker. You can specify how the browser opens the web link with standard target commands (for example, _blank). (See Web links, chapter links, cue points, and markers.) Target commands for web links in a SWF file _blank Loads the web link into a new browser window. _parent Loads the web link into the parent frame of the frame in which the current file is playing. _self Loads the web link into the current frame. _top Loads the web link into the top frame in the current window. _level0 Loads another SWF file into level 0. The current file typically plays at level 0; another file loaded into level 0 usually replaces the current file. The URL must refer to another SWF file. _level1 Loads another SWF file into level 1 if the URL refers to another SWF file. Supported features for SWF format export Layers After Effects text layers are exported to SWF format as vector graphics. The following layer types and layer switches aren't supported: track mattes, 3D layers, 3D cameras, 3D lights, adjustment layers, shape layers, Preserve Transparency, Collapse Transformations, and motion blur. The Fill Over Stroke character option and the Blur animator property aren't supported, and only Normal blending mode is supported. Nested compositions aren't supported and are rasterized. Masks Only masks with Add mask mode or Difference mask mode are supported; multiple masks in a layer must use the same mask mode. If