fonts in flash and file sizes
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- piperboytoy
Hi, I'm doing some flash banner ads and I'm using some typefaces that aren't suitable for flash.
When I try using those fonts in flash, I get these huge files, but now I'm using bitmaps instead and have reduced the sizes.
Now i'm wondering if there is another way to reduce files sizes without using bitmaped images of the type.
Can you help me? thanks.
- kpl0
break the text apart? (cmd-b until the text turns into vectors...flash's way to outline fonts)
not that this ever helped me cut filesize down...but maybe a combo of that and optimize vectors if the font has too many curves in it?
- unformatted0
reduce tweens, or don't use any tweens. depending on what animation you have.
delete stuff in your library that are not used in final comp.
sometimes if you break up bitmaps in flash it reduces size too.
- MHD0
Try this:
- unfittoprint0
rule #1: matheke a symbol of every font used in the Flash project and export them (along with other common used assets) to an external library (library.swf).
Link every movie that uses that font with library.swf and it will subtract the embed font size from every movie in the project.
- piperboytoy0
ok thanks guys, I've tried everything you suggested and nothing works. breaking them apart increases the file sizes.
When I learned flash, they kept saying how great vectors are for flash animation, but I end up using more bitmap images to reduce files sizes. what gives.
- kpl0
hmm... a font library for banners seems like cheating to me... wouldn't necessarily help if it's originally just one swf file being used, like most banner ads are.
- piperboytoy0
yeah, that's true, man i just want to slit my wrist right now. These flash banners are killing me.
Word of advice, never take a flash banner ad job, no matter who they are for. Even god!
- unfittoprint0
Ah, ok. But this THE file reducing method for larger Flash projects, with more than one movie.... with this, by changing one asset, will change every intance of it in the Project... including fonts...
- piperboytoy0
thanks unfit, that's a great link.
- kpl0
There are worse banner jobs. Like banners that uses Fireworks.
I spent a whole day working on banners using fireworks once. I think I bruised my head that night cos I kept banging my head on a wall.
- unknown0
I like this at the end of that link:
"On the Macintosh, if a shared font file uses a Postscript Type 1 font, exporting the SWF will produce the error message "Some characters could not be converted to outlines because an appropriate outline font is not available." However, this error message is erroneous. Click OK on the error dialog and the SWF export will continue intact."
thats macromedia for ya.