75
USING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL
Using imported artwork
Choose from the following options when importing Adobe Illustrator files:
•
Convert layers to Flash layers or keyframes, or single Flash layers.
•
Import text as editable text, vector outlines, or bitmaps.
•
Import as a single bitmap image. Choosing this option imports the AI file as a single bitmap image and disables the
layers list and import options within the AI Import dialog box.
1
Select File
> Import To Stage or Import To Library.
2
Navigate to the AI file to import, select it, and click OK. The Import Illustrator Document To Stage or The Import
Illustrator Document To Library dialog box appears.
This dialog box provides options to import the Illustrator file. Depending on the types of objects in the Illustrator file
you’re importing, the options available to you vary.
3
(Optional) To generate a list of items in the AI file that are incompatible with Flash, click Incompatibility Report.
The Incompatibility Report button appears only if incompatibilities exist with Flash in the AI file.
The incompatibilty report analyzes possible incompatibilities between Illustrator and Flash. The Import Options area
(next to the Alert button) of the AI Import dialog box displays recommendations to obtain the maximum
compatibility for any incompatible item.
The incompatibilty report includes an Apply Recommended Import Settings checkbox. If checked, Flash
automatically applies the recommended import options to any incompatible objects within the AI file. The exceptions
to this are when the AI document is larger in size than that supported by Flash, and when the AI document uses the
CMYK color mode. To correct either of these incompatibilities, reopen the document in Illustrator CS3, and adjust
the size of the document, or change the color mode to RGB.
4
(Optional) In the AI Import dialog box, select layers, groups, and individual objects, and choose how to import each
item. For information on the import options available for the different types of Illustrator layers and objects, see
“
Illustrator object import options
” on page 76.
5
For Convert Layers To, select one of the following:
Flash Layers
Converts each layer in the imported document to a layer in the Flash document.
Keyframes
Converts each layer in the imported document to a keyframe in the Flash document.
Single Flash Layer
Converts all layers in the imported document to a single flattened layer in the Flash document.
6
For the remaining options, select from the following:
Place Objects At Original Position
The contents of the AI file retain the exact position that they had in Illustrator. For
example, if an object was positioned at X
=
100 Y
=
50 in Illustrator, it assumes the same coordinates on the Flash
Stage.
If this option is not selected, the imported Illustrator layers are centered within the current view. The items in the AI
file remain relative to each other when imported; however, all objects are centered as one block in the current view.
This feature can be useful if you are zoomed in to an area of the Stage and are importing a specific object for that area
of the Stage. If you imported the object using the original coordinates, you might not see it imported, because it might
be placed outside of the current stage view.
Note:
When importing the AI file into the Flash library, this option is not available.
Set Stage Size To Same Size As Illustrator Artboard
The Flash stage size resizes to the same size as the Illustrator
artboard (or active crop area) used to create the AI file. This option is not selected by default.
Note:
When importing the AI file into the Flash library, this option is not available.
Updated 5 March 2009
