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USING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL
Using imported artwork
Static, dynamic, and input text objects
When you bring static text from Illustrator into Flash, Flash converts the text to outlines. In addition, you can set up
your text in Illustrator as dynamic text. Dynamic text enables you to edit text content programmatically in Flash, and
easily manage projects that require localization in multiple languages.
In Illustrator, you can specify individual text objects as static, dynamic, or input text. Dynamic text objects in
Illustrator and Flash have similar properties. For example, both use kerning that affects all characters in a text block
rather than individual characters, both anti-alias text the same way, and both can be linked to an external XML file
containing text.
About importing AI files to the Flash library
Importing an AI file into the library is similar to importing to the Stage, the difference being that the entire AI file is
encapsulated as a Flash symbol. The content is imported into the library and organized by the layering and grouping
structure of the AI file.
When you import an AI file into the library, the root folder uses the name of the AI file. After the AI file is imported
into the library, you can change the name of the root folder, or move the layers out of the folder.
Note:
The Library panel orders the contents of the imported AI file alphabetically. The hierarchical grouping and folder
structure remains the same, but the library reorders them alphabetically.
When converting AI layers to keyframes, the AI file is imported as a movie clip; converting the AI layers to Flash layers,
or as a single Flash layer, imports the AI file as a graphic symbol. The resulting movie clip or graphic symbol contains
all of the content of the AI file imported to its timeline, as if the content were imported to the Stage. Almost all movie
clips have a bitmap or other asset associated with them. To minimize confusion and naming conflicts, these assets are
stored in an Assets folder in the same folder as the movie clip.
Note:
When you import to the library, the AI file's contents are imported to the movie clip's timeline, not the main Flash
timeline.
The Library panel after importing an AI file
AI File Importer preferences
The Flash Preferences dialog box lets you set import preferences for AI files and the AI File Import dialog box. The
preferences you specifiy for importing AI files affect the options the AI Import dialog box is initially populated with
for the Illustrator object types.
Updated 5 March 2009
