Exporting Image Sequences and Movie Files from Flash

The following process describes how you would export animation from Flash, for further compositing in After Effects.

To Export an Image Sequence

First of all, you should make a folder to contain the image sequence you’re about to export.

Referring to the Main Menu, choose File > Export > Export Movie. From the Export dialogue box, you should enter the following information:

  • Save As: Give the file a short name, in lower-case letters without spaces in the name (e.g., walk_seq_). Be sure to select the folder where you want images to go.
  • Format: Choose “PNG Sequence.”
  • Press Save. The Export Settings will open once you press Save (which is opposite to the steps you would take with After Effects, when you’d enter the specifications and then save).
  • From the Export PNG dialogue box, enter these specifics:
    • Width and Height: Use the amount that you plan to use in after Effects. Normally, these should be the same values as your Flash document (but you can change the size — which I’ll touch on in the information below).
    • Resolution: 72 dpi.
    • Include: Choose “Full Document Size” or “Minimum Image Area” (the latter meaning that Flash will include pretty much only the image content that you’ve been working with on the stage — this can be useful for digital cut-out animation).
    • Colours: 24 bit with alpha channel — this is IMPORTANT! If you don’t choose “alpha channel,” you won’t have transparent backgrounds to use in After Effects.
    • Filter: None.
    • Make sure that “Smooth” is selected (and don’t select “Interlaced” or “Dither solid colours”).
  • Press OK. Flash will then export an image sequence.

Working with the Image Sequence in After Effects

You should read the following notes on working with image sequences in After Effects. It’s important to know the frame rate you animated to in Flash. For example, if, in Flash, you animated at 12 frames per second, then you should interpret the footage to be 12 fps.

To Export a QuickTime Movie, with the Intention of Compositing the File in After Effects

First of all, you should make a folder to contain the movie you’re about to export.

Referring to the Main Menu, choose File > Export > Export Movie. From the resulting dialogue box, you should do the following:

  • Save As: Give the file a short name, in lower-case letters without spaces in the name (e.g., walk_seq_). Be sure to select the folder where you want images to go.
  • Format: Choose “QuickTime.”
  • Press Save. The Export Settings will open once you press Save (which is opposite to the steps you would take with After Effects, when you’d enter the specifications and then save).
  • From the QuickTime Export Settings dialogue box, enter the following:
    • Render Height & Render Width: These values should be the same as your Flash document settings. However, you can change the dimensions by adjusting the “QuickTime Settings,” which are listed below.
    • Select “Ignore stage colour (generate alpha channel) — this is IMPORTANT! Otherwise, you won’t have transparent backgrounds to use in After Effects.
    • Click on “QuickTime Settings” to ensure the correct compression, dimensions, and frame rate. From the Movie Settings, adjust the following:
      • Settings:
        • Compression Type: Choose either “Animation” or “None.” These are lossless compression or none at all.
        • Compressor: Select “Millions of Colours +” — the “+” sign [plus sign] means that the file will have an alpha channel.
  • Press OK, and Flash will render a QuickTime movie, which you can then import to After Effects.