Flash for schools

For all the Flash developers here:

If you were developing a Flash application for schools, would you use vector or bitmap graphics? The reason I ask is because primary school computers are usually pretty old; vector graphics are better to manage, but would they likely run too slow on the average primary school computer?

I was amazed that a primary school I went to visit about a year ago were still using Windows 95.

from what I remember.. and this is back in the old days of flash so maybe it has changed. But Flash is built for vector and back then, it handled the pixel graphics as if they were vectors. That is. Many blocks of colors. This made for bitmap graphics taxing the system far more than the vector ones.

Now. Flash is indeed built for vector. There is NO reason to use it for pixels. This is what Shockwave is for.

Back in middle school... Which was 1995 for me. We had green-screen commandliners... I think they were apple. I don't remember.

So I'm not surprised that some schools still have win 95 machines... and really.. Not much has changed since then gui wise. So who gives a crap.

If you are going to use flash. You should do vector. The only way to make it faster, is to optimise the graphics. Proper circles, small numbers of lines and curves. Limit the use of shading and transparency effects.

That'll do ya.

Didn't know that bitmaps were treated as vectors. I guess I'll be doing the graphics in vector then.

Didn't know that bitmaps were treated as vectors. I guess I'll be doing the graphics in vector then.

It does it when you use the "Modify/Break apart>" command.

Sorry, that's for fonts.

What you want to do is described here:
http://www.oman3d.com/tutorials/flash/morphing_bc/

"Luckily for us, the Flash authoring tool can convert bitmaps to vectors for us. The command is readily available under Modify > Bitmap > Trace Bitmap. Tracing a bitmap will convert our image into a vector image that can be used normally in a shape tweened frame. "

Yep Flash is vector based but can handle bitmaps too.

Pretty much all schools computers will be able to handle basic flash animations so don't worry on that score. I was developing Flash stuff on P133 pc's with 256 MB ram 10 years ago, and they did just fine!

Don't use Trace Bitmaps on larger or complex bitmaps as the vectors they create are far too complex, stick with bitmaps you'll be fine unless you need shape tweening, but be warned complex bitmaps or bitmaps with lots of detail in them will not easily be manipulated and the file size will increase greatly - Be sensible choose the best format to use based on what you need to achieve with the animations.

If you are not sure, ask! Someone here will advise - I shall check back tomorrow and see if you need any help.

IPete2.

Im not much of an expert on flash, but would have thought bitmap based flash stuff would be faster on old machines as theres less number crunching. I guess it would depend on the video card. :\

Hmm... Now I'm not too sure. Maybe I'll check the vector stuff and just make sure that I don't use too many details... Best thing is to just get schools to test the new application when it's getting ready.

A lot of advice that I didn't know.

In my day there was no Flash at schools, but there might have been a Flasher.

ha ha ha

Bitmaps in Flash are much faster. Flash 8 has the new bitmap caching system which converts your vectors to bitmaps at run time to improve performance.