FlashImageConverter
The FlashImageConverter is a small but still very useful PHP-script allowing you to load a multiple* different image formats into Flash at runtime using the loadMovie function.
The script acts as a proxy for every supported image that is reachable via http.
In flash versions 5 and below flash only supports loading external swf files using the loadMovie function, unfortunately this can't be changed with this script.
Beginning with version 6 (Flash MX) flash supports loading progressive jpegs using the loadMovie function. This allows you to use the FlashImageConverter in order to load every image file that is supported by your gdLibrary into the flash player at runtime from anywhere in the internet.
Since version 8 flash natively supports the following image types using the the loadMovie funciton:
- JPEG (progressive and not-progressive)
- GIF (transparent and not transparent, for animated gifs only the first image will be imported)
- PNG (transparent and not transparent).
For all other image formats the FlashImageConverter again comes in place to work as a proxy, allowing you to load e.g. BMP or TIF images (if supported by ghdLib).
How the script works:
The image proxy (FlashImageConverter) will transform any image file supported by the gdLIb on the fly into a progressive jpeg allowing it to be loaded into flash at runtime.
Not only the script can convert images into jpeg it can also resize images and change the compresseion factor to save bandwith and transfer time to a minimum.
This gives your for example the possibility to upload a high resolution jpeg onto your server and send it to the flash player in different resolutions and with different compression rates.
Reuirements:
- PHP 4 or above (more information on image conversion in PHP can be found here)
- gdLibrary (2.x or above / gdlibrary is installed on most hosting packages where php is installed)
A manual on how to use the FlashImageConverter script can be found here.
To see a demo application see follow this link.
* depending on the PHP configuration and the image formats supported by your gdLib installation