# AS lightweight?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as-lightweight/169886>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [November 20, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as-lightweight/169886 "2005-11-20T20:46:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![drumsnroses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drumsnroses](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/drumsnroses)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/as-lightweight/169886/1 "2005-11-20T20:46:32Z")

</div>

Does using actionscript descrease the size of a file as compared to working with the timeline?  
For example, would using AS to cause a graphic to fade away be more effecient (as far as file size and performance) than using a symbol effect or even changing the alpha frame by frame?  
I know this is a stupid question. But I’ve been using flash for a year now. I’ve never learned AS because I thought I could do everything from the timeline. But my files always seem so large. And most animation effects seem choppy in comparison with what I see online. Is AS the key to changing that?