Open (Windows) or Import (Mac OS). 4. In the Import To Stage dialog box, make sure all layers are selected. A check mark should appear in the check box next to each layer. 5. Choose Flash Layers from the Convert Layers To menu, and select Place Objects At Original Position. Then, click OK. [View full size image] Flash imports the DVD interface image, and three layers appear in the Timeline: Menu, Preview Boxes, and Menu Background. [View full size image] Using Adobe Illustrator with Flash Flash CS3 can import native Illustrator files, automatically recognizing layers, frames, and symbols. If you're more familiar with Illustrator, you may find it easier to design layouts in Illustrator and then import them into Flash to add animation and interactivity. Save your Illustrator artwork in Illustrator CS3 AI format, and then choose File > Import To Stage or File > Import To Library to import the artwork into Flash. Alternatively, you can even copy artwork from Illustrator and paste it into a Flash document. Importing Layers When an imported Illustrator file contains layers, you can import them in any of the following ways: * Convert Illustrator layers to Flash layers * Convert Illustrator layers to Flash frames * Convert each Illustrator layer to a Flash graphic symbol * Convert all Illustrator layers to a single Flash layer [View full size image] Importing Symbols Working with symbols in Illustrator is similar to working with them in Flash. In fact, you can use many of the same symbol keyboard shortcuts in both Illustrator and Flash; press F8 in either application to create a symbol. When you create a symbol in Illustrator, the Symbol Options dialog box lets you name the symbol and set options specific to Flash, including the symbol type (such as movie clip), and registration grid location. If you want to edit a symbol in Illustrator without disturbing anything else, double-click the symbol to edit it in isolation mode. Illustrator dims all other objects on the artboard. When you exit isolation mode, the symbol in the Symbols panel-and all instances of the symbol-are updated accordingly. Use the Symbols panel or the Control panel in Illustrator to assign names to symbol instances, break links between symbols and instances, swap a symbol instance with another symbol, or create a copy of the symbol. For a video tutorial on using symbols between Illustrator and Flash, visit www.adobe.com/go/vid0198. Copying and Pasting Artwork When you copy and paste (or drag and drop) artwork between Illustrator and Flash, the Paste dialog box appears. The Paste dialog box provides import settings for the Illustrator file you're copying. You can paste the file as a single bitmap object, or you can paste it using the current preferences for AI files. (To change the settings, choose Edit > Preferences in Windows or Flash > Preferences in Mac OS.) Just as when you import the file to the Stage or the Library panel, when you paste Illustrator artwork, you can convert Illustrator layers to Flash layers. About Symbols