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Browser slow to open my website with uploaded SWF file exported from InDesign

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    • January 27, 2011 at 6:55 pm #58529
      Sondra McDonald
      Member

      I have created my digital portfolio in InDesign CS5; exported to SWF with resolution set at 96dpi. I have a website that is hosted by GoDaddy.com. On the initial startup of my web page containing this SWF file, it is VERY slow to initially display (approximately 12 seconds). My file size is 22MB total. Even if I export at 72dpi it is roughly 14MB and is still slow to initialize the web page (approximately 8 seconds with lower quality images). I have spoke with GoDaddy about this and they say I need to make my SWF file even smaller, using less images and set at 72dpi.

      What should my file size be? Is it the hosting company I'm using? Is there something I can do with this SWF without having to take it to FLASH Pro (I'm not an experienced Flash user, yet). Or… should I simply be patient while I continue learning HTML, CSS and Dreamweaver and then rebuild my ENTIRE website, with my portfolio included, using Dreamweaver?

      I'm new to this interactive document building and web design thing, so any suggestions and help would be much appreciated.

      Thanks! Smiley

    • January 31, 2011 at 2:23 am #58558
      Roland
      Member

      I honestly don't think InDesign was meant to make (big) Flash files with. It's never going to optimize things the way Flash Pro will, plus it doesn't add a pre-loader animation to let your visitors know they're going to have to wait a bit for the animation/site to get going.

      Have you looked at ready-made slideshow options to show off a portfolio? There are Flash options using external XML files for easy maintenance, or AJAX-based options (easy to add to pages from within DreamWeaver using the Widget Browser). Or you could consider making a nice-looking site with 'plain' pages offering the visitors a glimpse, with the ability to download a more extensive (interactive) PDF.

    • January 31, 2011 at 10:02 am #58569
      James Fritz
      Member

      I agree with Roland that InDesign is not meant to completely create an entire website. However, there are some steps that you can take to get your file size smaller in the resulting SWF file.

      1. If there are repeating elements, be sure to put them on a master page and do not override them. This way, they will be treated as symbols and the file size will be smaller.

      2. If you have any video, link to the video instead of embedding it. This way the user can stream it on demand.

      3. Use JPGS at actual 100% placed size. Photoshop can export much smaller JPGs than InDesign at better quality. If you use these optimized JPGS your site will hopefully be smaller.

      However, if you really want to get your file size down you will want to export your layout to FLA and bring it into Flash Pro. From there you can use action-script and symbols to make a much smaller file.

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