Flash vs. Illustrator?

[stoopidtypos]

If I can create the same illustration in both flash and illustrator, which program is better? Is it more space efficient to draw in Illustrator and import to a flash document than just drawing in flash from the beginning? Or is it just the same thing.... ?

[saxx]

I was under the impression that they work hand in hand. Flash animates, illustrator (fill the in blank)

[stoopidtypos]

yes but, is the size of the drawing the same regardless of which program it is created in? i mean, does it increase if you draw then import it rather than just drawing it in flash from the beginning? thanks

[saxx]

Well everything you create in flash is going to be vector, meaning it can expand and not be pixelated. I'm not really acquainted with illustrator, but i'm pretty sure they export bitmaps. meaning it maps every dot in in the picture. The file size will be bigger and it won't expand very well.So if you can make in flash, for flash, do it.

[brianmanden]

Wrong ! Illustrator works with vectors (but it can import bitmaps as well)

I´m not sure if you gain anything in file size if you create your piece in on of the programs and export it to the other. This should come down to a test ! ;)

[DJMCi]

Be careful of complex gradients in Illustrator - often they will be exported as bitmap, rather than retaining their vector information. Admittedly you may not be able to create the same gradient in Flash - but quite often you can.

It all comes down to what you are attempting to draw. I find a combination of all the Adobe suite is the only real way to go - no one works for all situations.

/dan

[redrum00]

the wy i do it is this way...

i draw what i want in one Ill file and just copy and paste it in Flash. i think this only works in CS3 though. but it works great and you dont have to export (i see that as wasting time and creating all these files you dont need) then you also have one Ill file with all your **** in it and not all these other files.

and gradients usually just don't transfer into Flash well at all. but, it's not that bad to just go in and recreate that gradient in Flash. unless its a gradient mesh, then you cannot do that in flash.

good luck i hope this helps.

[leica_m]

If I can create the same illustration in both flash and illustrator, which program is better? Is it more space efficient to draw in Illustrator and import to a flash document than just drawing in flash from the beginning? Or is it just the same thing.... ?

Hi.

As a person who works with both and uses both to make sites, it really depends on what you're using it for.

It sounds to me like your animation or art is simple so that it looks the same in Flash and Illustrator. But Illustrator's capabilities are more complex in regards to artistic output. Flash is limited in what it can do in terms of drawing and rendering. I prefer Illustrator's tools for drawing than Flash.

But of course, Flash is good for animation. If you prefer to do your art in Flash for the simple reason that you can easily animate it, then be my guest. But I have drawn images in Illustrator and imported those images to Flash and my sites are beautiful nonetheless.

[Templarian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5RLwaXymd0

From the Creator of PVPonline its a VERY good explanation between Flash VS. Photoshop VS. Illustrator for drawing. He is very skilled though.

[Sentientv2]

I really like being able to drag shape straight lines into curves in Flash. I have used Flash several times to roughly plot outline points on top of a reference image. Then you can go in and drag on the lines in between the points and get your organic curvature detailed.

I'm still very much a pixel junkie, so I've yet to come to terms with the entire workflow. Still, I'm sure this approach will help someone. It beats working with curve handles!