Raster image export

[Boxerman]

Our organization provides services to the legal industry to help present
demonstrative evidence in court and arbitration. We have our own software
(Exhibitor) which we use to build an Exhibit, Graphic, and Animation database
to use during trial to help the jury and or judge view the evidence. We
currently use Freehand, Flash, and LightWave to create vector based (editable)
images which we then export as PCX, JPEG, and TIFF files to import into
Exhibitor. This makes an image which opens quickly, without any font or fill
issues. However, we currently export as an .EPS, open in Photoshop, flatten,
convert to paletted 8-bit color, and save as a PCX. The files are very small
and open quickly.

We are looking for suggestions on other formats to export as - preferably
vector based final images if possible. Also, we would like to find any export
filters that may allow us to export to a format not currently supported with
standard Freehand.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you

[art101]

I don't know if this will help much, but I have luck exporting as PDF for
various multimedia and print applications. PDFs cross platforms well and are
usually fairly versatile when used in other editing programs.

[Boxerman]

Thanks, but we can and have used PDF files in the past. Unfortunately when
loaded into our program they open Acrobat within our software. We are trying to
get around this, because our software lets us open a graphic (jpeg or PCX)and
annotate or zoom in on portions to enlarge - this is not an option if we use
PDFs. Thanks

[art101]

"Unfortunately when loaded into our program they open Acrobat within our
software."

Hmmm. I wonder if exporting as QuickTime or QuickTime VR might be an option.
Based on what I understand of your program and requirements, I really have no
idea... but since several people on this forum helped me solve an issue that
was driving me nuts all day, I'm attempting a little heartfelt karmic payback.
QuickTime VR allows users to zoom in on particular areas of interest within an
image... and it works pretty much the same on Macs and PCs. More info is
available at [url]http://www.apple.com/quicktime[/url]

Best wishes - andy
art101.com

[Mark]

What about the good old SWF Flash format? Scaleable, zoom to any size.
There's even a 3D plugin produced by Electric Rain that can import Lightwave
files (I think) and keeps them as vector objects.

EPS files can have both vector and rastor information, but can end up being
rather large in some cases.

AI and PDF files are virtually interchangeable.

DXF, DWG and other CAD formats can be very handy at times.

WMF (if you're working with Windows).

Personally I would try for importing Flash movies and simply add buttons or
commands for zooming and panning.