Flash Site Design - Fash file size

Author

Fash file size

jeroliver

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

I've created a "small" flash website for a client. I was conscious of file size
from the beginning but my final SWF file is approx. 1.6MB. I'm sure this is
because of the 15+ portfolio images you can navigate through. I've selected all
unused items from my library and deleted them. This size is ok for DSL but Some
clients might have dial-up connections. I don't want them to have to wait for
5+ mins before the home page animation begins.

My questions are: Is 1.6mb too big? Is there a way to shrink the file size?

If I created a cool intro animation, how do I have my portfolio images loading
undetected in the background?

David Stiller

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

jeroliver,

> My questions are: Is 1.6mb too big? Is there a way
> to shrink the file size?

If your audience includes people on dial-up, then yes, that's not only
too big, it's *way* too big.

> If I created a cool intro animation, how do I have
> my portfolio images loading undetected in the
> background?

It's a good idea to load any of your heavy assets at runtime, such as
audio, video, and large images (heck, even other SWFs). To do that, you'll
need to use ActionScript. If you're not using Flash CS3 yet, my suggestion
is that you stick with ActionScript 2.0. AS2 provides a couple different
ways to load content at runtime. Check out this article to get a few ideas
(it's written for loading SWFs, but the same thing applies to JPGs, GIFs,
and PNGs).

http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash...nal-swf-loaded/

David Stiller
Co-author, Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers
http://tinyurl.com/2k29mj
"Luck is the residue of good design."

dzedward

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

use the MovieClipLoader class to load those images in externally. It will bring down the size greatly. You can have them load in whenever you want.

jeroliver

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

I placed each portfolio image at a different point in the timeline. added
labels and my button navigates back and forth between them. They aren't in a
movie clip. How do I load them externally? I have all the images saved in a
links folder. Do i delete them from my library? They "fade" from alpha 0% to
100% in 6 or so frames. Also,they are masked so I get the desired shape.

I have a feeling I've learned some bad habits and don't fully grasp how things
work best in flash.

dzedward

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

Read up on the MovieClipLoader class. you can use the onLoadInit method to
alpha Tween (Tween class) the images if you so desire. It will load the
images from the folder, instead of having them in in the library.

jeroliver

2007-08-08, 6:18 pm

I'll check it out and post my progress. thanks.

jeroliver

2007-08-21, 6:16 pm

Ok, I did some reading on MovieClipLoader class. I'd just like to try and
clarifty a few things for myself. I've been taught to have everything in my
library and create a pre-loader at the beginning of my flash movie that loads
everything. This makes the file too big, right? So, I could create a separate
..swf file of my portfolio section, then once a user gets to that section, the
portfolio .swf file will load externally using the scripts provided in that mcl
class link? This is faster than having it load initially?

David Stiller

2007-08-21, 6:16 pm

jeroliver,

> Ok, I did some reading on MovieClipLoader class.

Cool.

> I'd just like to try and clarifty a few things for myself.
> I've been taught to have everything in my library and
> create a pre-loader at the beginning of my flash movie
> that loads everything.

Well, not if you're planning to load external files at runtime. If
you're using MovieClipLoader, you'll be omitting any files it loads from
your Library.

> This makes the file too big, right?

It sure could. :)

> So, I could create a separate .swf file of my portfolio
> section, then once a user gets to that section, the portfolio
> .swf file will load externally using the scripts provided in
> that mcl class link?

You could load your site in sections, sure. Or load each photo in your
portfolio separately. If your photos are especially large, I would probably
go that route, so that each individual loading is as small as it can be.

> This is faster than having it load initially?

Ultimately, it all amounts to the same. If the sum total of your
site -- all its sections -- and all your photos is 2MB, then the sum total
of 2MB is what your users will have to download. But that's only if they
choose to view everything in your portfolio. If they love the very last
photo, and only that one ... why make them download the rest? It's not
about speed, per se, but rather about overall bandwidth and the perceived
speed increase of loading small elements in pieces, rather than one huge
piece all at once.

David Stiller
Co-author, Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers
http://tinyurl.com/2k29mj
"Luck is the residue of good design."