TechNote (Archived)

How to simulate video in Macromedia Flash

Note: Flash MX and the Macromedia Flash Player 6 may make it unnecessary to use this procedure in many cases. Before proceeding read Video strategies for Flash websites (TechNote 14571) and consider if embedded video playing through the Sorensen codec in the Macromedia Flash Player 6 might be a more efficient solution.

In some cases it may be helpful or necessary to continue to use the 'video simulation' technique used in Flash 5 and earlier versions. In that case use these techniques.

Introduction

Macromedia Flash can use a sequence of bitmap images in a series of keyframes to simulate video. Export a MOV, AVI or MPEG file from another application as a series of bitmap images. Flash itself can export MOV, AVI (PC only), or PICT sequence (Macintosh only). Then import these bitmaps into Flash as a series of keyframes. The resulting SWF file is playable in the Macromedia Flash Player and closely resembles the original video footage.

When is it necessary to simulate?

QuickTime (MOV) files can be imported into Flash, but in Macromedia Flash 5 and earlier versions they do not become part of the Flash file and cannot be viewed in the Macromedia Flash Player. The Flash authoring tool is used to add Flash content and interactivity to a QuickTime file. The Flash movie then needs to be exported as a QuickTime file and played in the QuickTime Player. Macromedia Flash 5 and earlier versions do not support importing AVI or MPEG files. See Video strategies for Flash websites (TechNote 14571) for complete details.

Use Flash to export a series of bitmaps

If the movie is a QuickTime file, it is possible to use Flash to export a series of bitmap images which can then be imported into another Flash file:

In Flash, choose File > New.
Choose File > Import to insert a pointer to a QuickTime source file.

Note: In Macromedia Flash MX a dialog will appear asking to link or embed the QuickTime movie. For this procedure choose "link".
Choose Insert > Frame or F5 until the entire QuickTime movie appears in the Timeline.

Note: In Macromedia Flash MX a dialog will appear allowing Macromedia Flash MX to add the necessary keyframes to contain the entire video. Allowing Macromedia Flash MX to do so eliminates this step.
Choose Export > Movie.
- On Windows, export as a Bitmap Sequence, JPG Sequence, PNG Sequence or GIF Sequence.
- On Macintosh, export as a series of PICT files, JPG Sequence, PNG Sequence or GIF Sequence.

Note: Use a video editing program to export a series of still bitmap images from an AVI (PC only) or MPEG file. Consider the target frame rate in Flash when exporting to prevent the generation of extraneous bitmaps. After exporting the bitmaps, follow the steps below to import the bitmap sequence into Flash.

To import a sequence of bitmaps into Flash do the following:

Choose File > New or delete the QuickTime movie from the current Macromedia Flash file.
Choose File > Import and select the first image in the sequence. Macromedia Flash will ask if you want to import the sequence of images, click Yes.
To reduce file size, scrub the Playback head over the Timeline and remove bitmaps that don't create motion.

To import the QuickTime soundtrack into Flash do the following:

Extract the QuickTime Soundtrack using a sound editing or video editing program such as QuickTime Pro, SoundForge or SoundEdit 16.
Save the file as an AIFF on Macintosh, WAV on Windows or MP3 on either platform.
Choose Insert > Layer in the Macromedia Flash movie.
Import the sound file.
In the Sound panel, select the sound file from the pop-up menu.
Set the Sound Synch pop-up menu to Stream.