SWFs for comics--Good idea or bad?

Subhuman · Post by **Subhuman** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:27 am

Some Wacky Firemen can only help a comic, in my opinion.

Seriously, you can just export Flash files as PNGs, then use any image editing program you want to make the final touches or change your compression options. You shouldn't need to use any Slimy Wastebasket Fungus.

Arvo · Post by **Arvo** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:05 am

I would only use Flash to make still images, no animation or other tricks. However, most people seem to think it's a bad idea, so I will probably use PNGs.

AndrewTaylor · Post by **AndrewTaylor** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 6:34 am

Am I the only person who thinks moving clouds look slightly bizarre wheeling past static characters frozen in the moment?

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:24 am

AndrewTaylor wrote:Am I the only person who thinks moving clouds look slightly bizarre wheeling past static characters frozen in the moment?

Usually I just assume some sort of time dialation effect.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:41 pm

Holly Scott! Everyone's time stopped except for me!

Terotrous · Post by **Terotrous** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:06 pm

I finally get here to offer my opinions on this:

I use SWFs for Philosophy Bites. I used to export to GIF, but I switched to Flash because it cuts the filesize down dramatically. Also, the image quality is better.

There are potentially compatibility issues but I've never had anyone complain about them. I've tested my site in various browsers and they all seem to work. I don't have linux to test it on, though.

KittyKatBlack · Post by **KittyKatBlack** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:45 pm

I think the general rule of thumb for flash is simply this:

If it's not interactive/animated, swfs are probably more of a pain than anything.

I just use PNG's for the most part. They have more colors available than a GIF, but without the fragmentation of a JPEG.

(And if it doesn't export exactly, can't you open your flash full screen, take a screenshot of the finished product, and copy it over to photoshop? That should keep all the colors true.)

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:47 pm

I like the whizzing clouds. Weeee....!

If it has a meaning. Like to represent the passage of time, or motion where the clouds are the only frame of reference. Like a glider with clouds whizzing by.

<_<

McDuffies knows what I mean, in theory.

Arvo · Post by **Arvo** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 6:11 am

KittyKatBlack wrote:I think the general rule of thumb for flash is simply this:

If it's not interactive/animated, swfs are probably more of a pain than anything.

I just use PNG's for the most part. They have more colors available than a GIF, but without the fragmentation of a JPEG.

(And if it doesn't export exactly, can't you open your flash full screen, take a screenshot of the finished product, and copy it over to photoshop? That should keep all the colors true.)

Terotrus, your site works fine for me, and I use Opera.

Kitty, I've started exporting the Flash files to PNG 24 bit, and then converting them to PNG 8 bit, which seems to keep the colors true. Also the PNG 256 color file is 10% smaller than the GIF 128 color file!

It works much better this way than exporting directly from Flash to a PNG 8 bit file. For some reason when I do it that way, some of the colors get dithered.

One thing about SWFs has probably made me decide against them. There doesn't seem to be a way to download them and save to your hard drive. I want people to be able to do that (I know I do it a lot)

Arvo · Post by **Arvo** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 6:27 am

Subhuman, I love "Pals." Great stuff! Why don't you have a message board?

Squis · Post by **Squis** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:51 am

I'm all for SWF-Comics! Alpha Shade gets it resized to the window.

Caduceus · Post by **Caduceus** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:08 am

I use SWF for my comic. = Tiny files sizes.

Genesis_13 · Post by **Genesis_13** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:40 am

AndrewTaylor wrote:Am I the only person who thinks moving clouds look slightly bizarre wheeling past static characters frozen in the moment?

Nope. I watch anime.

Ida · Post by **Ida** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:14 pm

I have never heard of an SWF before. That probably isn't a good sign.