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Asked: 2026-05-20T17:47:27+00:00

Question In flash, if you have a complicated graphic (like a complex diagram) that

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Question

In flash, if you have a complicated graphic (like a complex diagram) that doesn’t change much and you want to move/zoom/rotate it around, then does Flash perform better if you convert all graphics into symbols? Or does making symbols slow things down?

Background

Sometimes, you do things for so long, you can’t remember why you started in the first place. Whenever I import graphics in flash (like from Illustrator, for example), I select everything, press cmd-B (or ctrl-B on Windows) repeatedly, “breaking apart” everything until I can’t, anymore. Then I press F8 and create a symbol.

That’s just what I’ve done for like the last 10 years. It’s to the point where I don’t even think about it, anymore. I vaguely remember doing this after learning that performance improves when you break apart graphics to create a symbol.

Now, I have a problem: I’m translating/rotating/scaling a massively complex, static diagram and it’s too sloooow. I’m trying every technique I can think of to speed things up—every little bit counts.

I’ve read this link and lots of others but I haven’t come across the topic of creating symbols.

Summary

Right now, I’m trying to figure out: should I go back through and make everything a symbol? Should I go through and make everything NOT a symbol? Which is faster?

All insights are appreciated!

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    In flash, if you have a complicated
    graphic (like a complex diagram) that
    doesn’t change much and you want to
    move/zoom/rotate it around

    usually makes me BitmapData.draw() it and remove the original instance from the display list. redrawing as the original instance changes appearance and zooming the BitmapData – if it doesn’t have mousechildren

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