Question about AE CS3 swf output

Question

I'm curious about something... I know that obviously using bitmap elements within a scene will not convert to vectors (so, for each bitmap you use in a scene, you lose out on the file size efficiency that vectors give you).
However, I'm confused and curious about what/how AE creates swf files from your scene.
Text, made in AE, will obviously convert fine (stay vectors)...
Beyond that, I'm not sure what things convert fine to the swf vectors, and what becomes bitmapped (or, for whatever reason, become detrimental to the efficiency of the swf file.
1) Could someone outline what does and doesn't maintain it's efficient vector format when converted to an swf in AE CS3?
2) What about illustrator files brought into AE? Are they treated the same as vectors created in Flash (keeping their vector form even when animated and the scene is exported as an swf)?
3) If I use a bitmapped background, but all foreground elements are vectors, does the swf just store the bg once (adds to the file size), but then has no other detrimental effect to the file size?
Any other words of wisdom on the subject would also be appreciated!
Thanks...

Answer 1

>1) Could someone outline what does and doesn't maintain it's efficient >vector format when converted to an swf in AE CS3?
Masks on solids; text layers; Radio Waves, Path Text, Audio Waveform, and Audio Spectrum effects; Illustrator files
>2) What about illustrator files brought into AE? Are they treated the
>same as vectors created in Flash (keeping their vector form even when
>animated and the scene is exported as an swf)?
Under the right conditions - yes.
>3) If I use a bitmapped background, but all foreground elements are
>vectors, does the swf just store the bg once (adds to the file
>size), but then has no other detrimental effect to the file size?
If the bg is a static image, it should.
For more info check here:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/9.0/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a4f2dff7-79caa.htm l
Mylenium