Bitmaps in Flash

This tutorial was written for the Flash Designer software, which allows you to create flash animations in a much easier way than by using Macromedia Flash. You may get Flash Designer here.

Bitmaps

Indexed Bitmaps

Paste the bitmap by choosing "Edit" > "Paste" command from any image editing application or import indexed bitmap in GIF or BMP format.

Importing JPEG files

Choose "File" > "Import Image". Flash Designer exports JPEG images in native JPEG format.

Macromedia Flash Player can't display "Progressive" JPEG images. If the image doesn't appear in the Flash player export the image in non-JPEG format. To change export option select the image, choose "Item" > "Edit Properties" command. Uncheck "Export as JPEG" and click OK to clear JPEG data.

Bitmap Fill

Fill any shape (ellipse, rectangle, polyline) with a bitmap fill by choosing "Item" > "Bitmap Fill" command. You can select a bitmap on any frame in the movie. In no bitmap is available it must be imported first. To find out the bitmap name choose "Item" > "Placement Properties" command.

Click to view flash

Resizing & Cropping

To resize a bitmap choose "Select" tool:

To crop a bitmap choose "Crop" tool:

Select the bitmap with the mouse cursor and drag a handle to resize or to crop.

Transparent Bitmaps

Use "Eraser" tool to make part of the bitmap transparent

To erase bitmap area of the same color hold CTRL key and click inside the area. It will erase pixels in "bucket fill" mode. In the following example white border was made transparent by using "Eraser" tool and using "bucket erase".

You can also import and use transparent GIFs

Image Border

By default image has no border. If a thin line appears around the image although no border is specified you have to define neutral border line, for example use 1 pixel white line around white background image.