14.1. Optimizing Flash Documents

The larger your published Flash animation file size, the longer it takes for your audience to download it from the Web, and the more stress it puts on their computers when it does begin to play. (Find out more about the difference between an editable .fla Flash document and a published, ready-to-roll .swf document on Section 14.1.1.9.) A large file size can cause someone to stare at a blank screen for seconds or even minutes at a time, while she waits for your animation to download and begin playing. A large file size can also cause your animation (including any sound files it contains) to play in fits and starts once it does begin.

Figure 14-1. Flash lets you choose how to deliver your compiled animation: as a standalone projector file (a self-contained executable file you doubleclick to run, with no need for a Web browser or a separate Flash Player), a QuickTime movie, an image file, or embedded in a Web page (shown here).