With the latest update to Flash, Macromedia's vector graphics design tool, the vendor is determined to push the Internet to a new multimedia level. Shape tweening, or morphing, offers designers the option of placing objects in various key frames. Tweening then automates the process of drawing all of the in-between frames, creating a seamless change between the objects.
Sprite animation makes the creation of animated buttons and menus much simpler.
There is now support for vector transparency, which enables such design effects as gradients and color opacity. The bandwidth profiler gives designers a graphical representation of an image's streaming performance, making it easy to spot frames that may cause a bottleneck. Flash's optimizing tools can be used to reduce the file size of these problem frames. A big plus is the inclusion of standalone projectors that allow Flash files to be distributed with a Flash player as a single file.