optimizing SWFs

[mmreed]

I saw this on FKs main page...

http://www.erain.com/defaultOptimaze.asp

How well do you think this would work with KM? And is there anything free or semi-free that does this?

[johnie]

It should work with any SWF... as to how much aditional compresion you will get??? I would suspect that if you hand reduced the points and curves in KM the difference wouldn't be all that high but still there... however not trying it myself I couldn't say for sure. Try sending the makers (Erain does not make this tool) A SWF that you have already hand optimized in KM through hand point/curve reduction and see what it does.

They cliam to have patented the optimization process.

As far as other tools: This is the first time I have noticed such a tool on the market (it adjusts your points and curves from the SWF- I sincerely hope this is not what they are trying to patent)...

[necromanthus]

Originally posted by johnie

it adjusts your points and curves from the SWF- I sincerely hope this is not what they are trying to patent...

Indeed !
But nothing new: "z-lib" compression tool (from Flash MX) works similar.

[johnie]

Yes, but the guys in the patent office may not realize that...

[henkvg]

It's not free and I haven't tested it as yet, but there is the Swiff SWF shrinker and cost "only" $ 45 {ex VAT}
You'll find at http://www.swiff-shrinker.com
regards
Henk

[henkvg]

Another, FREE, tool is located at: http://www.buraks.com/swifty/swfc.html but since it only works for swf's version 6 I can't test the abilities for Koolmoves. Is there a way to convert to SWF 6 format outside FlashMX?
Henk

[henkvg]

Originally posted by henkvg
It's not free and I haven't tested it as yet, but there is the Swiff SWF shrinker and cost "only" $ 45 {ex VAT}
You'll find at http://www.swiff-shrinker.com
regards
Henk

The site mentioned above seems to be disappeared

[henkvg]

Originally posted by henkvg
Another, FREE, tool is located at: http://www.buraks.com/swifty/swfc.html but since it only works for swf's version 6 I can't test the abilities for Koolmoves. Is there a way to convert to SWF 6 format outside FlashMX?
Henk

Is there a way to convert swf 5 to swf 6 or should this be implemented in Koolmoves?

[johnie]

The SWF 6 spec has niot officially been published yet although there is some information about the format already out in the public.

You may want to see if it will compress the SWF 5 format SWF and still work- It may very well still work.

[henkvg]

Originally posted by johnie
The SWF 6 spec has niot officially been published yet although there is some information about the format already out in the public.

You may want to see if it will compress the SWF 5 format SWF and still work- It may very well still work.

The readme .txt says that it might be possible to compress swf 5 files but there 's no real explanation ; all the files I tried ( a lot) are not accepted. I suggest you try it out yourself
Henk

[theMartian]

> But nothing new: "z-lib" compression tool (from Flash MX) works similar.

well, thats not really true.

Optimaze can add z-lib compression to swf's as well as its own vector compression.

(and the vector compression is tuned to allow z-lib to work more effectively)

>it adjusts your points and curves from the SWF- I sincerely hope this is not what they are trying to patent

optimaze does 'adjust' points and curves in the swf file, but this is not a trivial exercise (unless you have a lot of experience in computer graphics and geometry)

it also cleans up a lot of the content in the swf. (this is particulary effective for swf's rendered from 3d packages and other tools)

as for the compression you get after hand adjusting points,
the longer and more complex the animation, the more time it will take to do it by hand (like more hours), but for optimaze its just a few extra (milli)seconds and you get to compare the results in real time.


martin

[henkvg]

Funny, the day before yesterday swiff-shrinker had a site,and a prize of $ 45, yesterday the link to swiff-shrinker disappeared, but look where it leads to now: http://www.swiff-shrinker.com .

[johnie]

Originally posted by theMartian


optimaze does 'adjust' points and curves in the swf file, but this is not a trivial exercise (unless you have a lot of experience in computer graphics and geometry)

But as it relates to the KM (And not Some 3D tool or any other tool) as Mark was asking a very specific question as to what the specific compresion advantage from KM produced SWFs and whether or not they will compress under the tool...

KM allows you to adjust points and curves by simply pushing a button to switch edit modes. There isn't a brezier tool or auto trace and adjusting shapes by manipulating points and curves is pretty much one of the most basic ways the program works in the first place. This isn't even unique as JASC Web Draw and Sharp EVA Animator have a simular point/curve manipulation scheme.

This doesn't require any more expertise than reading the help file included in KM and then following the instructions with the program. Adjusting a SWF from its Binary format in this matter would require some expertise in the SWF format itself but the uncompiled format it is not dificult.

I would think it would depend on how you drew your shapes in the first place. Certainly there should be some compresion but at what trade off. Eleminating points will reduce the quality some. This is true of any vector import in which you reduce points- We can see the difference in KM's own Import Vector art function by reducing the points. Also consider the price of this software... In comparision to KM does the benifit outwiegh the cost. KM costs $45 ($36 with its Summer Sale going on right now). Are you really going to spend about $130 as to compress files, which may or may not signifigantly benifit from the compresion, created with a $45 tool?

Point and curve reduction is a common technique used in many vector drawing programs. The fact that it does this with the SWF format and that this is undergoing the patent process troubles me. The fact that it does this with a diffrent format shouldn't warrent a patent. Then again there is much more troubling happenings in the world today with Patents...

Some companies that previously worked on open formats and on standards such as OpenGL and JPEG have been bought by other companies. Previously where you could use the formats royalty free under the liscense from the original companies, the purchasing company is changing the liscense so that a royalty is to be charged on it. http://www.theregus.com/content/4/25658.html JPEG transmision and http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-943111.html Open GL. This type of "Protection" of intelectial property rights is not really protection at all but a way to basically stop smaller companies (That typically offer lower priced software and shareware) and "Free software" from existing at all.

I have often argued that software should be copyrightable but not patentable before... or if patents are allowed to exist for software that the time that is covered be reduced to 4-5 years as 16-20 years for software is not in step with the market. Also consider that the patent office doen't have the time or resources to fully investigate software patents. The LZW patent for example was given to both IBM and then 2 weeks latter to Unisys. Also consider that when Compuserve developed the GIF format they were not even aware of a patent on LZW.

You can read all about the reaction to the LZW Patent surprise and the reaction from many web developers here: http://burnallgifs.org/ and I'm sure there will be a larger reaction to the JPEG transmission Patent just as there was umprecedented public reaction to forcing DRM yesterday in a Commerce Department meeting http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-944728.html . It won't take the "Tech Activists" to realize that larger companies are buying out other companies that previoulsy worked on standards and then changing the liscensing thus increasing the price of software as the royalties increase the barrier of entry into the markets and may drive some from the market resulting in lower competition meaning that the larger companies can charge more money for their wares as their is reduced competion in the market.