Explanation of how to use Zoomify's Zoomifyer for Flash professional web sites. Also refer to Adobe Adobe Flash MX 2004, high-resolution images, zoom, navigate, BMP, TIFF, JPEG, business, advertise, showcase skill, marketing, image, education, simulation, entertainment, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Zoomifyer for Flash MX
by Ron Kurtus (14 January 2004)
Zoomify's Zoomifyer is a tool to allow high-resolution images to stream and display quickly using Adobe Flash MX. The user can then easily zoom in and navigate to specific areas of the image. Upon installation, Zoomifyer components are added to the Flash Components panel, where they can be dragged and dropped into an movie. This lesson is concerned with their Zoomifyer for Flash product.
Questions you may have include:
- How do you install Zoomifyer for Flash?
- How do you create a Flash file with a high-resolution image?
- How do you navigate the image?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Installing
Download files from the Zoomify site and unzip them. Do not have Flash open. Then click on the appropriate installer file. The components will be added to Flash.
The Zoomifyer for Flash V3 folder has the documentation and other material you can use. I moved that folder to My Documents > My Flash for easy access.
Simple viewer
Since Zoomifyer is really made for Flash MX 2004, there are some added steps required if you are using Flash MX.
Images
Zoomifyer is intended for use with large images. Although it will work with smaller or web-sized images, the effects are not as dramatic. Also, the images should be lossless and not already compressed. The program works best with BMP files. TIFF files are also acceptable. Note the PNG image files will not work in Zoomifyer.
The large image file is converted into a number of smaller JPEG files to allow effective and fast streaming. Thus, you could have an initial image file that is extremely large but not have to upload it to your server nor worry about download time for viewing.
You start your project by placing your high-resolution image(s) in a working folder.
Using Flash MX
Open the Zoomifyer for Flash V3 folder and click on the Zoomify Converter.exe file. Select your image and convert it. A sub-directory or folder will be created in your working folder with the name of image file without its extension.
Start a new Flash project. From the Flash Components panel, open Zoomify Components. Then drag the ZoomifyViewer component to your stage. Save your Flash file to the working folder.
Select the component, and in the Properties panel, give the component an instance name.
Click the Launch Component Parameters Panel button. In the Image Folder Path text box, enter the name of the sub-folder (name of the image file without its extension). Click in the Development Folder Path and type in the same name. You probably will get an error message. Disregard the message and close its Output box.
Press Ctrl+Enter to test your movie. You should see your image.
Using Flash MX 2004
The process is much simpler for Flash MX 2004.
Start a new Flash project. From the Flash Components panel, open Zoomify Components. Then drag the ZoomifyViewer component to your stage. Save your Flash file to the working folder.
Select the component, and in the Properties panel, give the component an instance name.
Click the Launch Component Parameters Panel button. Click the Convert button and select your image. Click Refresh to see the image within your Components Inspector window. (Note that the image does not display in Flash MX).
Press Ctrl+Enter to test your movie. You should see your image.
Navigation
Next drag the ToolbarStandard component and drop it somewhere on the stage. In the Properties panel > Parameters tab, highlight Target ZoomifyViewer and type in the instance name you gave to the ZoomifyViewer component.
When you test your movie, you can now zoom in and isolate areas in your image.
Summary
Zoomifyer for Flash allows high-resolution images to stream and display quickly. The user can then easily zoom in and navigate to specific areas of the image. Upon installation, Zoomifyer components are added to the Flash Components panel, where they can be dragged and dropped into an movie. Using it with Flash MX 2004 is easier than with MX.
Look to satisfying your customer
Resources
The following are resources on this subject.
Websites
Books
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
1. What is Zoomifyer used for?
2. What type of files does Zoomifyer prefer?
3. Does Zoomifyer use components?
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Flash development. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Zoomifyer for Flash MX