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Click by Click: Importing Clip Art, Bitmap & Vector Images

Full Version: This is a shortened click by click version of a: Full Length Tutorial

The aim of the tutorial is to learn how to import Clip Art and other forms of Computer Graphics and Vector Images. It is important to understand the difference between the two types of images: Vector and Bitmap images. This is because Flash handles these different images formats differently. In this tutorial I will demonstrate the difference by looking at how Flash Shape Tweens the different image types:

Shape Tweens:

 

Both these Shape Tween animations are the same except for how the images have been imported:

 

Bitmap Image Shape Tweened	Vector Clip Art Shape Tweened

In the above examples both Movies use the same Clip Art file but they have been imported into Flash using different methods. In one case Flash converts the image to a Bitmap image and in the other the Clip Art retains its original Vector File Format.

It is usually better to import images as Vector based images as they tend to be smaller files. Here are some of the things you should be aware of when importing images:

• Vector is Flash's Native format.
• Vector images are usually faster to download than Bitmap images.
• A Vector image has distinctive and different properties to that of a Bitmap image and vise versa.
• Flash converts some vectors into bitmaps on import (which this is avoidable).
• Flash never converts a Bitmap into a Vector Image on import.

  Note: It is quite difficult to convert a Bitmap image into a Vector image and if you need to you would normally use a specialist program. These programs are usually referred to as Trace programs. Some image programs may have Trace type filters.

Step One: Understanding Bitmap Images

Quick Links: Bitmap Images

Step Two: Understanding Vector Images

Quick Links: Vector Images

Step Three: Importing Clip Art as a Vector Image

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.

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

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

Step Four: Getting Frame 1 Ready for the Shape Tween

1. If the Property Inspector is not open, open it by going: Window > Properties > Properties (Ctrl F3)
   
2. In Frame 1 select the: Keyframe
3. In the Property Inspector go to the Tween menu and select: Shape

Step Five: Your Second Shape

1. Right click (Mac: Ctrl click) on Frame 15 and select: Insert Blank Keyframe
2. You will need to paste/import a second piece of Clip Art as you did earlier in the Tutorial: 2nd Clip Art
3. Break Apart the Clip Art as many times as need to get the image: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)
4. Repeat as many time as is needed until the Clip Art becomes Dotty: Modify > Break Apart (Ctrl B)
   

Step Six: Test your Movie

Your Shape Tween should now be finished.

1. Save your file: File > Save (Ctrl S)
   
2. Go to: Control > Test Movie (Ctrl Enter
3. Close the Test Window:

   Cross Ref: Shape Tweens

   Cross Ref: Photo Shape Tweens

   Cross Ref: Pictures for the Web

   Full Version of this: Tutorial