How can I use a photoshop image as a menu?

Hey, Nixy

Thanks a lot for your help. But by any chance do you know how to import those .psd files inside flash? Or I will have to transform them to .jpg?

thanks again
 >> Stay informed about: How can I use a photoshop image as a menu? 

Hey Tubaraobaleia,

I think flash can open only bitmaps as images, so you should just convert the
files as a .jpg or .bmp. If you use high quality jpg's, it will really look the
same, no problem there. To do that, open the files in photoshop, then choose
'file' and 'save as'. In the format popup menu you get, choose JPEG. Done!

If the .psd files contain different layers it's another story. You won't find
the JPEG format in the format popup menu. You can ofcours flatten the image in
photoshop (choose 'layer' and 'flatten image') but you would probably want to
keep the different layers apart for easier use in flash.

Hope that helps!

Lotte
 >> Stay informed about: How can I use a photoshop image as a menu? 

For bitmaps I can't tell. I'd never use it. But if Lotjeneedshelp tell yes I
can beleeve it. You can also import JPG, PNG (keep transparency), gif (Not
really good quality). There is a way to import .psd. I read about it, but I'd
never try it. I have the book in front of me so it's written; ... there is a
third-party Photoshop plugIn, called PSD2FLA from Media lab.
Page 24, from Flash Hacks, O'Reilly collection.

Hope that can help you.
 >> Stay informed about: How can I use a photoshop image as a menu? 

Importing PSD files from photoshop is possible, but flash "reroutes" the bitmap
graphics via Quicktime, which results in a "flattened" image as with .pngs,
,jpg, etc. If you don't see your .psd's listed when doing the import, be sure
to change the "files of type" so it reads "All Files (.)" at the bottom of the
import dialog box. When you select your psd and click "OK", flash will give
you a warning dialog: "Flash doesn't recognize the file format of "xxxx.psd".
Would you like to try to import via Quicktime?". Clicking "yes" should do it!

Caveats:
1. You'll need at least QT v4 on your machine; also, I've imported photoshop
files containing in excess of 16 layers with no problem.
2. publishing...by default, an imported .psd will show up in the library with
lossless compression applied. In a *very* simple test, (the source psd in
photoshop weighed 259.6k) the swf set to it's default came in at 2.61k. After
changing the property of the bitmap to jpg (with jpg publish settings at 80)
yielded a swf at 5.12k. When adjusting the publish settings for jpg output to
100%, the resulting swf ballooned to 14.7k. Just something to keep in mind...

Although importing psd to flash is possible, it isn't what most designers
would recommend. Afterall, flash is not best-suited as a optimization tool for
raster/bitmap graphics...that's what Fireworks/Image Ready/Photoshop are for.
The ability to further enhance aspects of bitmaps (glows, shading, drop
shadows, transparency, etc) can only be effectively created in the above,
whereas you'd have to go through a bit of "graphic surgery" to pull off the
same kind of effects directly in Flash. Can it be done? Sure. But you'll
need to weigh cost vs. time...and time is money, no?

One last parting thought: if you optimize your images in PS/Fireworks, etc, I
wouldn't recommend messing with the "document default quality" settings to
further compress the bitmaps...you'll only compound compression which will
result in less than stellar graphics. (You can find the doc default quality
setting if you right-click your bitmap from the library; that will give you the
bitmap properties dialog box.)

Rob
 >> Stay informed about: How can I use a photoshop image as a menu? 

Thanks a lot, people!!

Now I have all the info I need to do the cd-rom. At least, for now.

I really aprecciate all your help.

Thanks a lot again

Tubarao
 >> Stay informed about: How can I use a photoshop image as a menu?