SUPPORT: HOW TO: OPTIMIZE A FLASH FILE:         Optimizing a Flash file can completed using several methods. In this section, we address some of the most effective methods to optimize your flash file. - Importing & Utilizing Flash's Compression - Symbols - Timeline / Key Frames / Frame Rate - Additional       Importing:     Often users assume that you should compress .jpg's and .png's before you import but compression, while maintaining quality, is one of Flash's strengths. When importing images such as a .jpg or a .png file, you will want to import them at their highest level of resolution (for the dimensions needed), then following steps below on how to optimize each item in your library:     1. Open .fla file.     2. Open up your Library (ctrl L).     3. Organize your Library with folders. - Imported (for imported .jpg, .png, .gif) - Symbols --- Movies --- Graphics --- Buttons     4. Open the “Imported” folder.     5. Open the Properties box for that item - by double clicking the item.     6. Un-check “Use document default quality” if it isn’t already.     7. Click “Test” to the right.     8. Summary data on the file size will appear down below the number in the white field. The white field is the % out of 100% image quality you are utilizing.     9. Adjust the white field until the image (top left of the properties box) is either at the balance between image quality / optimized or just set the % and to achieve a desired file size. Note: You can slide the image around up in the properties box to see how the quality is elsewhere.     10. Click “Ok” and repeat steps 5-11 for every imported item.     11. Then export the movie and utilize the JPEG quality compression settings as well.     12. Right click on the exported .swf to view the properties which will tell you the file size.     Symbols:     Maximize library instance recycling… i.e., if you have buttons, reuse the same button and modify it on the instance level rather than creating three similar buttons in the library.     Timelines / Key Frames / Frame Rate:     - Be sure to optimize your timeline, is it as short as it can be? If not, shorten it and streamline animation lengths.     - Minimize the overall number of keyframes in your animation. For novice users, adjust the FPS/keyframe ratio.  For advanced users, use actionscript to control animation opposed to traditional keyframes, although more actionscript means more CPU usage.       Additional:     - Take advantage of effects such as alpha channels to accomplish visual effects rather than fully animating a scene.     - Use vector images as much as possible.  It is possible to import vector EPS and Freehand files, for example.     - When possible, create items within flash and minimize the use of raster images such as jpg's.     - When importing an image, especially one with any sort of glow or gradient, that will need to "float" over a background layer, import it as a .png. This will allow you to retain the properties of the component and allow it to have a transparent background (vs. carrying over a white or black background and not matching your background in flash etc).