A couple of questions from a WP n00b

I would like to know if there are any plugins available that would let me customize how my thumbnail is created for my artwork that I upload to my wordpress posts or pages. I like on flickr how you can place a hovering box over the area of the picture where you want a thumbnail created, are there any like that for wordpress?

Also, I have swf flash files that I uploaded and linked to using the ‘Linked to Page’ option because I would like to have visitors comment on them. The only problem is that when they click on the link it shows the page but the swf isn’t embedded and they have to click another link to the file which makes the animation full-screen and not sized properly. Is there a way to use ‘Linked to Page’ with an swf and have it embedded and sized?

If anyone can help me on these issues it would be GREATLY appreciate. Thanks a ton.