SWF files.
There are many video file types — from MP4s to WMVs and MOVs to FLVs — all of which suit specific projects. SWF is an Adobe Flash file format perfect for vector graphics and a range of multimedia. Read on to discover why you may want to use the SWF files, how to edit them, and their pros and cons.
What is an SWF file?
The SWF (Small Web Format) file type is an Adobe Flash file format that can contain text, vector graphics, raster graphics, and video-based animation. It’s also pronounced “swiff,”but that’s not a term you’ll hear much anymore since Adobe discontinued the format in late 2020.
SWF worked particularly well with interactive content written with ActionScript, a programming language commonly used in browser-based games and flash content on websites.
History of the SWF file.
FutureWave and Macromedia created SWF files in the 1990s. The acronym SWF’s original meaning was Shockwave Flash, but it later came to mean Small Web Format to differentiate it from that technology.
Users preferred the SWF file format over competitors in the early 2000s due to its suitability for interactive and browser-based games, animated graphics, and video.
For a long time, Flash was everywhere. Files could be played for free by any browser with Flash installed, making SWF easily accessible. Developers used Adobe Flash (now Animate), After Effects, and Flash Builder to create and edit SWF content and animations.
In 2020, most web browser developers, ended support for Flash. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t prolific for a long time.
How to use SWF files
There’s unfortunately no longer any support for SWF files available, which means you’ll need to convert any SWF files to another container format in order to use them. However, SWF files were used for a variety of multimedia content on the web, including:
Browser-based games.
SWF files were ideal for browser-based gaming due to being easily accessible with Flash across various internet browsers and systems.
Animated graphics.
In the same way that SWF files were ideal for browser-based games, they were great for animated graphics of the time. Because SWF files were lossless, they were great for projects that needed high-quality images.
Video and sound.
The SWF file format could also support high-quality video and sound over the web that provided impressive visuals and audio that was retained, thanks to lossless compression.
PDF animations.
Before the EOL (end-of-life) date, SWF files could support animations and videos in PDFs.
Pros and cons of SWF files.
Even though SWF files are now discontinued, if you come across one during your video project, it’s worth knowing the advantages and disadvantages of the once-popular format.
Pros.
- Fast loading. SWF files were quick to load, which is ideal for browser gaming, ads, movies, or online graphics. They can display animations, are usable by many systems, and can work on slower network connections.
- Vector-based. As SWF files are vector-based, they are highly scalable — which means they could work for projects of any physical size. This trait also made them suited for animations inside PDFs.
- Lossless compression. By using a “lossless” data compression method, SWF files can downscale their file size without ruining the quality. They used a non-patented method known as “DEFLATE.”
- Supports transparency options. Unlike many file types, SWF files offered transparency options like PNGs. You could edit the HTML of a SWF file to change its transparency settings and display the image with a transparent background.
- Versatile. By being able to amend things like transparency, SWF files allowed users to incorporate SWFs in numerous creations across PDFs, web browsers, and more.
Cons.
- No longer supported. Because SWFs have reached their EOL (End of Life) with Adobe, there’s no support for them anymore. Consequently, PDFs and websites won’t be able to play them back, and you may need to convert old SWFs to newer formats.
- Compatibility. SWFs relied on the Flash plug-in to work. As modern programs were able to run without Flash, the plug-in was used less and less. SWF’s dependency on Flash ultimately meant the file became obsolete after Flash’s EOL date.
Find out which container file types are supported by Adobe Premiere Pro
How to open an SWF file.
Due to Flash’s discontinuation, opening an SWF file isn’t always straightforward. Depending on your platform, you might run into different obstacles. But in some cases, you can find work-arounds, like:
Mac
Specific plug-ins exist that can provide Flash to browsers like Chrome and Safari. However, these third-party apps aren’t guaranteed to work and might not be supported. If you dig deep, you might still be able to find a Flash players that can play SWF files, but chances are it won’t be officially supported.
Windows
Flash browser plug-ins exist, but they are third-party solutions, so there isn’t a guarantee of safety or performance.
Simply download a compatible media player, such as Eltima Flash Decompiler Trillix, open-source Flash Player emulator Ruffle, or SWF File Player. Right-click and then “open with” the player of your choice.
How to create and edit an SWF file.
You can still generate SWF files in some programs through the export functions, but may not be able to open or edit them easily. Generally, SWF files are difficult to edit directly. Adobe Animate can import the SWF file format, but certain types of data in the SWF file, like sound, may not be able to be reimported into Animate.
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How can I edit an SWF file?
Can I still create SWF files?
Can I use SWF files in PDFs?
Can I convert an SWF file into a MOV or MP4?
How do I play SWF files without Flash?
Learn more about similar file types to SWF.
MP4.
MPEG-4 (more commonly known as MP4s) is a container for a variety of multimedia, such as audio, video, and metadata, and is one of the most popular video file formats.
MOV.
MOV is an Apple-developed video format that can hold many forms of multimedia across different tracks using MPEG-4 compression. It can be slightly better than MP4 on file quality alone but is not as commonly used or as efficient.
WMV.
A WMV file is a lossless Windows-only video compression file format that can retain quality and play various videos. It is ideal for short animations, videos, and audio.
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