however, you'll import images to the library, so that you can decide later where to place them on the Stage. Many designers import all the assets for a project to the library when they begin working, and then drag the assets to the Stage as they need them. Note If you import images to the Stage, Flash also adds them to the library. About Image Formats Flash supports JPEG, GIF, and PNG files, which are all bitmap formats. Use JPEG files for images that include gradients and subtle variations, such as those that occur in photographs. Use GIF files for images with large solid blocks of color. Use PNG files (a native format in Flash) for images that include transparency. PNG files often have a much larger file size than JPEG or GIF files. In the Library panel, you can set PNG files to export as JPEG files, with a smaller file size, while retaining their transparency. Importing Images to the Library First, you'll import three JPEG images to the library. Later, you'll add them to the preview_boxes symbol. 1. Choose File > Import > Import To Library. 2. Select the Vacation_1.jpg file in the Lesson03/03Start folder. 3. Hold down the Shift key, and select the Vacation_2.jpg and Vacation_movie.jpg files, as well. Hold down the Shift key whenever you want to select multiple files. 4. Click Open (Windows) or Import To Library (Mac OS). Flash adds the three JPEG files you imported to the library, without placing them on the Stage. Importing Images to the Stage The background image for the DVD interface is an image of people on a beach with large umbrellas. This image will appear behind the existing layout, so you'll create a layer for it and move that layer beneath the other layers. Import the image directly to the Stage. 1. Choose Insert > Timeline > Layer. 2. Name the layer Beach Background. 3. In the Timeline, drag the Beach Background layer below the Menu Background layer. [View full size image] 4. Choose File > Import > Import to Stage. 5. Select Beach_umbrellas.jpg in the Lesson03/03Start folder. 6. Click Open (Windows) or Import (Mac OS). The Beach_umbrellas jpg image appears beneath the other layers on the Stage. Converting a Bitmap to a Vector You can convert bitmap images to vector objects to reduce the file size of your movie, and also to give you more flexibility in manipulating the graphic. The Trace Bitmap command converts a bitmap into a vector graphic with editable, discrete areas of color. To reduce the file size, you'll convert the Beach_umbrellas.jpg file to a vector graphic. Note