Flash image compression
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- steadyvibe
Hey, what is the best image optimization technique for creating the smallest swf file size?
I have a flash file with alot of images and in order to get them each to be under a meg i have to compress the hell out of thema nd it looks like shit. See work section of http://www.industrialbrand.com
- imakedesign0
1st things 1st: save them using save for web in photoshop, i can't believe they are a meg each!
if you really cant do any better maybe try:
http://www.flashoptimizer.com/
you need to sort this out i was waiting for something big to happen after such a long preload.
- steadyvibe0
oops.. they aren't one meg each, I have about 40 images that add up to just over 1 meg total. I want to get it smaller then that...
- steadyvibe0
The setting I am using are Save for web in PS at about 60 quality.
Then in flash in bitmap properties i unchecked use imported jpeg quality and set it to 70 quality.. it looks like shit as you can see...
- imakedesign0
hmm.. what you could do is preload the 1st image of each section then the next three in the background while the user is looking at the 1st image. so the images load sequentially
- dippy0
yeah, what imakedesign said. 60% in PS and then 70% in Flash is waaaay to much. Best thing is to stream the images one at a time.
- steadyvibe0
Yeah, that wont work..
I just wondered if anyone had any good techniques for compression
- dippy0
aaaah, okay, so what your site is doing is loading each entire section at a time (branding, advertising, etc.).
But you don't need to do that. You just need to put individual preloaders on each item in each section. So the site only loads the items the user wants to see. It's a good compromise, imo.
- fugged0
you gotta choose the best compression method depending on what kind of image it is.
for photos and illustrations where there is a large number of colors and less hard lined art, set the compression method to JPG.
for line art, logos, and artwork that has a smaller pallete, use the try lossless. it probably uses some form of RLE encoding and you will actually get a smaller file size (depends on the artwork though)
I would save ALL of your images out of photoshop at the highest quality you can. Compressing them twice (first in PS, then in Flash) will not only lead to worse quality, but in some cases, larger files.
- fugged0
I really need to proof read my posts before I click that broadcast button...
- steadyvibe0
Cool thanks, I re output them at 100% quality and compressed them in flash
- torres0
I save them as PNGs from photo shop and then compress then in the library in flash, not just the global compression setting.
That way you can still compress some images more than others.
I think the only time you should compress files in photoshop is if you're going to be dynamically loading in the JPGs directly.
- jeedoubleu0
Still, the best thing to do is to streamline the images.
That's the best way to maximize loading time, image quality and the overall impression of the user.
First impressions are latsing ones.
- Nairn0
I use pngs in flash and let it compress each one individually too, if you want my two'pennieth.
But whatever - never compress a compressed image.