Clip Art	Home • Members • Tutorials • Forum • iSnapChat • Contact Us

Importing Clip Art, Bitmap & Vector Images
For Shape Tweens & Other Uses

Free Flash Tutorial

Step Three: Importing Clip Art as a Vector Image

I will show you how import your Clip Art into Flash as a Vector shape. This will greatly improve your ability to use Clip Art as resource within Flash.

Note: When discussing Clip Art I am referring specifically to Vector based images. There are other sources of Vector images such as images. For example Art Work that has been created in programs like: Adobe Freehand, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. Most 3D programs would use Vectors.

Beware: Most Clip is Vector based but there is also Bitmap based Clip Art.

You can copy and paste Clip Art directly from a programs like Microsoft Word. Alas Flash tends to convert these images to Bitmaps and this does not always work that well. Below is an example of Clip Art Pasted directly from Microsoft Word into Flash. Flash handles these image as Bitmap Images:

Example: Download the Flash file  Beg 036a

Bitmap images are used in this animation.

In this next example I have brought the Clip Art into Flash as Vector Images:

Example: Download the Flash file  Beg 036b

Vector images give a far more interesting result.

You can see that Flash handles Bitmap and Vector images completely differently.

Flash does not have a Clip Art Library. So this means that you may need to use other programs to access your Clip Art. Microsoft Word would be the most wide spread application that contains Clip Art. So for this example I am going to use this as my starting point to access the Clip Art.

Because you maybe using different programs I am not going to go into click by click detail, but I will give you a broad idea of what to do:

1. Open: Microsoft Word
   
2. Select some Clip Art from Word: Insert > Picture > Clip Art
   
3. Select and copy the Clip Art to the computer's memory: Edit > Copy (Ctrl C)
   
   
   
   
4. Open: Flash
   
5. Open a new Flash file: File > New > General Tab > Flash Document > OK
   
6. Paste the Clip Art into Flash: Edit > Paste (Ctrl V)
7. Open the Property Inspector: Window > Properties > Properties (Ctrl F3)
8. Use the Selection Tool to select the Image:

   You will see in the Property Inspector that the image has imported as a Bitmap:

   
   Flash Handles the Clip Art as a Bitmap Image.

9. This is not the desired result so delete the image: Edit > Clear (Backspace)
   
   
   
   
10. Return to: Microsoft Word
    
11. Copy the Clip Art to the computer's memory: Edit > Copy (Ctrl C)
    
    
    
    
12. Open a Graphics Program such as: Adobe Illustrator

    Note: You should be able can use any Graphics program such as:

    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Adobe Freehand
    • CorelDraw

    
    Alternative: If you do not have access to a Graphics Program don't worry see the Alternative Method below.

13. Open a New file: File > New (Ctrl N)
14. Paste the Clip Art into the file: Edit > Paste (Ctrl V)
15. Select the File with the default Selection Tool:
16. Copy the Clip Art to the computer's memory: Edit > Copy (Ctrl C)
    
    
    
    
17. Return to: Flash
18. Paste the Clip Art into Flash: Edit > Paste (Ctrl V)

Alternative Method: If you wish you can import the files directly from Flash. Before you can do this you will need to know the location of the Clip Art source files. They will be in a folder on your hard drive. It maybe something like this: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Clipart Tip: If you cannot locate the folder try and do a search for .wmf files (Windows Meta File). On some computers it could be part of the hidden system folders. To locate the files you may need to use a File Management program such as: Windows Explorer Once you know the location you can import the Clip Art directly from Flash: File > Import > Import to Stage (Ctrl R)

19. Use the Selection Tool to select the Image:

You will see in the Property Inspector that the image has imported as a Group:


This time the image has imported into Flash as a Group.

Note: This is a group of Vector based shapes

Warning: If your image is still a Bitmap it is probably because the original Clip Art file was a Bitmap file and not a Vector file.

20. Break the image apart: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)

You can now see the individual Vector shapes:


Image Broken apart (once only).

Tip: Using the selection Tool you can now move or delete individual parts of the Clip Art. Deselect everything by clicking to one side and then reselect individual vector shapes.


The individual shapes can be moved around or deleted.

21. With all the image segments selected break the image apart again: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)

Break Apart Objects that are Grouped
You can Shape Tween any type of object if it is broken apart. Text has to be broken apart twice, some groups or other objects, like Clip Art, may need to be broken apart several times. Remember if the object is not 'dotty', you cannot Shape Tween it.

The image is now completely broken up and ready to edited and/or Shape Tweened:


The image is 'dotty' and cannot be broken apart further.

Tip Colour: Using the selection Tool you can now change the fill and outline properties of individual shapes such as their colour:


Fancy a green cup and purple plate?


Tip Shape: If you want to change the shape of an individual object use the Subselection Tool:

This is not easy but it is possible to make dramatic changes to the shapes. Zoom in and drag the Anchor Points (small green boxes) around:


The individual green Anchor Points can be moved around or deleted.


How about a punky, spiky plate?

Webwasp is Phil Schulz's baby. You are welcome to contact me or become my Facebook friend: Click here