Embed a video file within a flash file – Adobe Flash Professional CC 2014 v.13.0 User Manual
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To learn more about Flash Media Server, see
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To learn more about Flash Video Streaming Service, see
Embed a video file within a Flash file
When you embed a video file, all of the video file data is added to the Flash Professional file. This results in a much larger Flash Professional file
and subsequent SWF file. The video is placed in the Timeline where you can see the individual video frames represented in the Timeline frames.
Because each video frame is represented by a frame in the Timeline, the frame rate of the video clip and the SWF file must be set to the same
rate. If you use different frame rates for the SWF file and the embedded video clip, video playback is inconsistent.
Note: To use variable frame rates, stream the video using either progressive downloading or Flash Media Server. When you import video files
using either of these methods, the FLV or F4V files are self-contained and run at a frame rate separate from that of all other timeline frame rates
included in the SWF file.
Embedded video works best for smaller video clips, with a playback time of less than 10 seconds. If you are using video clips with longer playback
times, consider using progressively downloaded video, or streaming video using Flash Media Server.
The limitations of embedded video include:
You might encounter problems if the resulting SWF files become excessively large. Flash Player reserves a lot of memory when downloading
and attempting to play large SWF files with embedded video, which can cause Flash Player to fail.
Longer video files (over 10 seconds long) often have synchronization issues between the video and audio portions of a video clip. Over time,
the audio track begins playing out of sequence with the video, causing a less than desirable viewing experience.
To play a video embedded in a SWF file, the entire video file must be downloaded before the video starts to play. If you embed an
excessively large video file, it might take a long time for the SWF file to download in its entirety and for playback to start.
After a video clip is imported, it cannot be edited. Instead, you must re-edit and re-import the video file.
When publishing your SWF file via the web, the entire video must be downloaded to the viewer’s computer before video playback can begin.
At runtime, the entire video must fit into the local memory of the playback computer.
The length of an imported video file cannot exceed 16000 frames.
The video frame rate and Flash Professional Timeline frame rate must be the same. Set the frame rate of your Flash Professional file to
match the frame rate of the embedded video.
You can preview frames of an embedded video by dragging the playhead along the Timeline (scrubbing). Note that the video sound track does not
play back during scrubbing. To preview the video with sound, use the Test Movie command.
Embed video within a Flash file
1. Select File > Import > Import Video to import the video clip into the current Flash Professional document.
2. Select the video clip on your local computer to import.
3. Select Embed FLV In SWF and Play In Timeline.
4. Click Next.
5. Choose the symbol type with which to embed the video in the SWF file.
Embedded Video If you’re using the video clip for linear playback in the Timeline, importing the video into the Timeline is the most
appropriate method.
Movie Clip A best practice is to place video inside a movie clip instance, because you have the most control over the content. The video’s
Timeline plays independently from the main Timeline. You do not have to extend your main Timeline by many frames to accommodate the
video, which can make working with your FLA file difficult.
Graphic When you embed a video clip as a graphic symbol, you cannot interact with the video using ActionScript (typically you use graphic
symbols for static images and to create reusable pieces of animation that are tied to the main Timeline).
6. Import the video clip directly onto the Stage (and the Timeline) or as a library item.
By default, Flash Professional places the video you import on the Stage. To import into the library only, deselect Place Instance on Stage.
If you’re creating a simple video presentation with linear narration and little to no interaction, accept the default setting and import the video
to the Stage. To create a more dynamic presentation, work with multiple video clips, or add dynamic transitions or other elements using
ActionScript, import the video into the library. After a video clip is in the library, customize it by converting it into a MovieClip object that you
can more easily control with ActionScript.
By default, Flash Professional expands the Timeline to accommodate the playback length of the video clip you are embedding.
7. Click Finish.
The Video Import wizard embeds the video into the SWF file. The video appears either on the Stage or in the library depending on the
embedding options you chose.
8. In the Property inspector (Window > Properties), give the video clip an instance name, and make any modifications to the video clip’s
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