SWF

From MobileRead

SWF file format (acronym of "Shockwave Flash", pronounced swiff) is a partially open repository for multimedia and especially for vector graphics. It was originated with FutureWave Software and has come under the control of Adobe from its subsidiary Macromedia. It is also called Adobe Flash®.

[edit] Overview

SWF is intended to be small enough for publication on the web. SWF files can contain animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function. SWF is also sometimes used for creating animated display graphics and menus for DVD movies, and television commercials.

SWF currently functions as the dominant format for displaying "animated" vector graphics on the Web, far exceeding the use of the W3C open-standard SVG, which has met with problems over competing implementations. While originally limited to presenting vector-based objects and images in a simple sequential manner, the format in its later versions allow audio, video and many different possible forms of interaction with the end-user.

[edit] Text capability

SWF includes specialized ability for text and typography. Ligatures are supported as well as specialized Asian fonts and flow directions (right to left, up and down). Text flows can be multicolumned and will flow around graphics images. The anti-aliasing text engine increases performance and quality of anti-aliased text, particularly for Asian character rendering. Support for stroke fonts reduces memory requirements.