Does anyone know a good piece of software that will extract still images from swf files?

I have a great piece of animation software that will only output to swf or mpeg formats. I would have to buy the pro upgrade for 120 and the only thing i want from the pro upgrade would be the ability to export animations as sequences of files.

I suppose something that extracts the frames of an mpeg file would work too.

I have tried a few free solutions found on google, but none of them seem to be able to open the files this program creates. I am thinking the designers have done something to prevent this but thought I would see if anyone else does this.

4/20/2010 12:34:11 PM

if you want still images, couldn't you just take a screenshot? I acknowledge this would be painful

4/20/2010 2:08:41 PM

It would be painful.

I need the output image to have transparency as well. So I would have to take a screenshot, then edit them to get the transparent background correctly. These are character animations for a video game.

4/20/2010 2:14:22 PM

very doubtful. Usually "output to swf" as an animation just means it wraps an mpeg4 video stream into a swf video wrapper. If that's the case, you arent going to get the transparency that way either. You can get a swf decompiler/resource editor and see what it's storing, but I've never had much luck with that for getting resources out.

Sounds like the 120 bucks would be money well spent (and looks like they did their homework on upselling the SKU)

4/20/2010 8:31:14 PM

yeah, either $120 or you're gonna need to use a combo of exporting to mpg, using virtualdub to get the sequenced files out, and then using the magic wand tool and some photoshop style actions to get rid of the background



this is assuming that you even have Photoshop.



although my question is why are you creating the animations for your (i'm assuming) sprites in one program and then trying to export them? You need to pick one program and stick with it to maximize the efficiency of your workflow.

[Edited on April 21, 2010 at 3:09 PM. Reason : .]

4/21/2010 3:07:50 PM

I am creating the animations in an animation program that has really nice vector tools, bone animations, etc that will let me re-use animations and save time.

I am exporting them as image sequences because thats how the software I am using to put the animations into the game engine builds its sprite sheets.

Its looking like ill have to drop another 120 on the software (basic version was 40). I don't mind doing that but was hoping for an easy cost saver. This is still for now just a hobby afterall

4/21/2010 3:19:21 PM

what animation program are you using? just curious

4/21/2010 4:48:04 PM

Anime Studio Debut. I just upgraded to Anime Studio Pro.

http://store.smithmicro.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=2405

I like it because it makes the creation process pretty simple for me. I am no artist, just a programmer, so anything that makes the art more easily accomplished is a huge help.

[Edited on April 21, 2010 at 9:08 PM. Reason : *]

4/21/2010 9:07:26 PM

Quote :

"You need to pick one program and stick with it to maximize the efficiency of your workflow. "

lol...

4/21/2010 11:58:52 PM