# Converting a Macromedia file to a jpg OR gif

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723 "2004-12-02T17:51:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723/1 "2004-12-02T17:51:25Z")

</div>

Basically, I want to save a Macromedia file (Flash image, Shockwave image) - file extension **.swf** - as a “still image” - something like .jpg OR .gif.  
Can this be done - if so, _how_ is it done?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tir\_Tinuviel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tir\_Tinuviel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tir_Tinuviel)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723/2 "2004-12-02T18:05:04Z")

</div>

In Flash you can “Export Image” (file menu) which will allow you to save as a .jpg or .gif.

I don’t have Shockwave, (don’t they save as .SDK’?) but I’d image it has a similar option.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723/3 "2004-12-02T18:47:40Z")

</div>

Some people protect the swf from import - if you can’t get the person who made the flash file to do an export for you from the source, probably the easiest way is to take a screenshot.

In windows once the flash file is full loaded press- ctrl print screen, then open your favorite image editor and do a ctrl v to paste the screenshot - and then crop the part you do not need.

On a mac press - Apple + Shift and 3 - and a pdf will appear on your desktop.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Omphaloskeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bcef8e/32.png) [@Omphaloskeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omphaloskeptic)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723/4 "2004-12-02T21:28:58Z")

</div>

If you want to extract static images embedded in the SWF file, you can use the [swfextract](http://www.quiss.org/swftools/swfextract.html) tool, which has command-line versions available for Unix and Cygwin environments. (SWF animations are often made up of multiple interacting pieces, with some being static pixel images and some being line drawings or text. swfextract will only pull out the pixel images, which may or may not be what you want.) The related swfdump tool will sometimes let you pull out chunks of text from a SWF file.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-macromedia-file-to-a-jpg-or-gif/277723/5 "2004-12-03T01:38:36Z")

</div>

Thanks for all your suggestions.  
Yes, lexi that did the job perfectly. 🙂