Export SWF from AE CS6

[jimyokajty]

I used to be able to export SWF files directly from AE CS3. But am having difficulty performing that same task in CS6. Under FILE/EXPORT there is an option to choose "Adobe Flash Player (SWF)". However, when I output the file it appears to start rendering, then almost immediately the render window dissapears. I don't receive any kind of error message at all. It simply creates an SWF file with no content in it. Does anyone have an idea what the issue might be?

[OrangeGuy]

This issue is probably the worst thing that's happened to me at work ever. I certainly can't wait 3 months for a fix. Any other ideas?

[Fyredept]

There are a couple of work arounds mentioned in the thread. The only thing that worked for me was going back to CS5 AE. The only work around I found in CS6 was to render it as a .mov and then import it back in to AE. It will then export as a SWF file but will be huge in file size. I am lucky to still have access to CS4 & CS5 which both still work properly. Not sure why Adobe seems to be ignoring the fix on this. They are well aware of the problem and have been well notified of the problem, but refuse to fix it.

[jimyokajty]

So, what's the latest version number of AfterEffects? I have 11.0.2. By the string of emails it sounds as if Adobe believes they've fixed this issue, but I couldn't tell whether or not that meant they've actually released the version with the fix or not.

[Fyredept]

I have same version (11.0.2). Since phoning Adobe with this issue, I have to date, not seen one update to AE. And it certainly has not been fixed. Will be phoning Adobe again today.

[mamullen]

It is not fixed. One and a half hours with New Dehli on the phone and they never heard of this issue. Didn't know what it was until I found this board.

[PCMol]

There is another way to generate a SWF file of a After Effects composition. First you let After Effects render a Flash FLV file. Open a new file in Flash Pro, give the stage the right size, place a FLVPlayback component on the stage and give it the right size. Now you can import your FLV file and fine tune other output settings through the Properties > Components Parameters dialog box. At last you can make Flash Pro do what is the best at doing, publish your SWF file.

[Northrup808]

It seems FLV limits resolution to 1920 wide, even though the rendering box will permit resolutions outside that range. Flash 10, I've heard, allows 2880 max, either width or height, however I have found Flash Pro has limits when I export a XFL from AE that is within 2880 h & w - it can size the composition / document, and show the full size image, but any objects that had to be rasterized are limited to this 1920 width. And anything moving is 'not supported' and has to be rasterized, in my experience.

Adobe never went back to support Flash 11 in CS 5.5, and they killed Flash Catalyst, so you can only use Photoshop and Illustrator and Fireworks for tiny files in flash - I thought that was a clever process route, using layers for designers and letting them add functionality easily, and it seemed a natural thing to expand on when they expanded the size of permitted flash files. They didn't seem to have integrated any of that into the new Flash Pro CS6, either. Maybe they thought it would catch on immediately, and it didn't, so they gave up very early.

Adobe needs to

1) Finish integrating AE and Flash - meaning Flash 11, and bug-free exports

2) Finish integrating Photoshop and AE - we can do internet or mobile device flash work in Photoshop easily without that - .psd should not gum up swfs.

3) Tie off all frayed ends before introducing new software - this smacks of greed and apathy

I just switched to Adobe, after an 11 year affair with Apple, and I'm about to go look at what Apple has... probably nothing. Maybe the Scandinavians will come to the rescue.

Meantime, I'm going to keep learning javascript and HTML 5

[Todd_Kopriva]

See the list of significant bug fixes in the next version of After Effects:

http://blogs.adobe.com/aftereffects/2013/04/whats-new-changed-after-ef fects-next.html

This issue is fixed.

[OniMitch]

Hi Todd, any idea of when the new update to AE will be released?

[Todd_Kopriva]

We haven't announced that yet. Soon.

[clintinz]

This was really helpful for me! In CS6 the export to XFL worked a treat and then opening that and publishing it from Flash was simple.

[jimyokajty]

HEY ALL! I was the one who started this discussion just over a year ago. Today I downloaded PhotoShop CC, and it seems the bug has been fixed in this latest version of Photoshop. If you want to export directly to SWF you'll want to go back a version - to CS5...or download the newest version of the software - CC.

[Fyredept]

In no way am I trying to be a smart a$$ but Adobe should be fixing this problem. You have been mislead as well as me by Adobe about there being a fix in the making to solve this problem. I have found work arounds, but that is not the solution. It is not as if only you and I were having the issue. I will not be going to CC right away and deserve an answer from Adobe. I want to go to CC on my time, not forced to go that way to fix a bug. We all paid for software that should work, especially when we have proved there is a bug. My apolgies for the rant, but enough is enough. Todd, where is this fix???

[Mike_B3]

I agree with Fyredept.  I've paid for CS6 and I expect it to work correctly.  To be forced to upgrade to CC is sick and wrong.