257
USING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL
Text
Bitmap Text (No Anti-Alias)
Turns off anti-aliasing and provides no text smoothing. The text is displayed using sharp
edges, and the resulting SWF file size is increased because the font outlines are embedded in the file. Bitmap text is
sharp at the exported size, but scales poorly.
Anti-Alias For Animation
Creates a smoother animation by ignoring alignment and kerning information. This option
creates a larger SWF file because font outlines are embedded. For legibility, use 10-point or larger type when specifying
this option.
Anti-Alias For Readability
Uses the Flash text rendering engine to improve the legibility of fonts, particularly at small
sizes. This option creates a larger SWF file because font outlines are embedded. To use this option, you must publish
to Flash Player 8 or later. (Do not use this option if you intend to animate text; instead, use Anti-Alias For Animation.)
Custom Anti-Alias
Lets you modify the font’s properties. Use Sharpness to specify the smoothness of the transition
between the text edges and the background. Use Thickness to specify how thick the font anti-aliasing transition
appears. (Larger values cause the characters to look thicker.) Specifying Custom Anti-Alias creates a larger SWF file
because font outlines are embedded. To use this option, you must publish to Flash Player 8 or later.
Upgrade content for Flash 8 or later anti-aliasing
1
Open a FLA file created for use with Flash Player 7 or earlier.
2
In the Publish Settings dialog box (File
> Publish Settings), select Flash Player 8 or Flash Player 9 from the Version
pop-up menu.
3
Select the text field to apply the Anti-Alias For Readability or Custom Anti-Alias option to.
4
In the Property inspector, select Anti-Alias For Readability or Custom Anti-Alias from the Font Rendering Method
pop-up menu.
Make text selectable
Static horizontal text or dynamic text can be selectable by users viewing your Flash application. (Input text is selectable
by default.) After selecting text, the user can copy, cut, and then paste the text into a separate document.
1
Using the Text tool
, select the horizontal text that you want to make selectable.
2
In the Property inspector (Window
> Properties), select Static Text or Dynamic Text.
3
Click Selectable
.
Use device fonts
You can use generic device fonts in text.
1
Using the Selection tool
, select one or more text fields.
2
In the Property inspector (Window
> Properties), select Static Text from the pop-up menu.
3
In the Font pop-up menu, select a device font:
_sans
A font similar to Helvetica or Arial.
_serif
A font similar to Times Roman.
_typewriter
A font similar to Courier.
See also
“
Font outlines and device fonts
” on page 245
“
Masking device fonts
” on page 246
Updated 5 March 2009
