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switchColorDepth

Syntax

    the switchColorDepth

Description

System property; determines whether Director switches the monitor that the Stage occupies to the color depth of the movie being loaded (`TRUE`) or leaves the color depth of the monitor unchanged when a movie is loaded (`FALSE`). False is the default value.

When `switchColorDepth` is `TRUE`, nothing happens until a new movie is loaded.

Setting the monitor's color depth to that of the movie is good practice.

| When the monitor's color depth is set below that of the movie, resetting it to the color depth of the movie (assuming that the monitor can provide that color depth) helps maintain the movie's original appearance.
| When the monitor's color depth is higher than that of the movie, reducing the monitor's color depth plays the movie using the minimum amount of memory, loads cast members more efficiently, and causes animation to occur more quickly.

This property can be tested and set. The default value comes from the Reset Monitor to Movie's Color Depth option in the General Preferences dialog box.

Example

This statement sets the variable named `switcher` to the current setting of `switchColorDepth`:

    switcher = the switchColorDepth

Example

This statement checks whether the current color depth is 8-bit and turns the `switchColorDepth` property on if it is:

    if the colorDepth = 8 then the switchColorDepth = TRUE

See also

`colorDepth`