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What advantages would you have with Flash web designing?
Before we can understand the advantages of Flash web designing, we need to know exactly what Flash is. Flash is a multimedia format developed by Macromedia which has come a long way since its inception. Flash 7 also known as MX 2004 is a modern interactive platform. It is a powerful design and animation authoring tool with an object-oriented dynamic scripting engine, bitmap rendering anti-aliasing precision and advanced audio and video playback. This multimedia format actually comprises of three components: a player, a file format, and an authoring tool.
Flash allows web designers to create and develop animations and interactive movies or images that can be embedded into a web page. In its early stages, Flash was mostly used in the development of vector based animations, which meant that Flash movies could have small file sizes, so they could downloaded and rapidly played over the internet. Initially Flash became popular with web developers as a means of producing animated 'splash screens' or presentations, to make a web site seem more fun and attractive. However unfortunately this technique was over used and diminished the value of this amazing multimedia tool.
More recently, Flash technology has become more powerful, and developers have now begun to truly appreciate its potential to create more sophisticated web-based applications. Flash is now used to create small tutorials complete with interactive animations and self-testing exercises. It is a great e-learning tool.
Uses of Flash
Flash can be used as a in the following to make them more attractive and interesting:
- Advertising Banners
- Online Presentations
- Offline Presentations
- Web Sites
- Internet Animations
- Multimedia Online Movies
- CD ROMs
- Screen Savers
- Software Applications &
- Games
Advantages of Flash web designing
So what are the main advantages of Flash web designing? If implemented properly, flash can provide a number of useful advantages over traditional web designs:
- Flash can make a web site more attractive, interactive and dynamic.
- Within a 30 second period Flash can show a whole company presentation or profile on a website.
- As Flash movies are displayed by a Macromedia Flash Player plug-in, Flash-based work is likely to be rendered the same on all browsers and computer platforms, therefore allowing designers to escape from the constraints of more traditional XHTML-based design interfaces.
- Flash has now become a very well-recognized format on the internet, and it is estimated that over 90% of web users now have the Flash Player installed on their computers
- In addition to being embedded within a web page, Flash movies can also be exported to construct stand-alone executable applications, which are ideal for CD-ROMs.
- Flash movies can be stored in very small file sizes, so they can be downloaded rapidly.
- It is now possible to import external information from say a database into a Flash movie. This facilitates the construction of more sophisticated Flash-based applications that can automatically update themselves. What this means is that one can use the same Flash interface by simply editing the external XML file.
- Flash can also be used to create innovative advertisements, games and movies that can be displayed a web site.
Flash Facts
- The fact is that Flash is a flexible software package that can be programmed to run comprehensive applications and online multimedia movies.
- Flash is the most efficient means of animation on the web at the moment. It is primarily used for Vector based for animation.
- Flash is a multi-platform application that will appear the same on all browsers and platforms as long as its plug-in has be downloaded.
Flash Myths
- Flash is slow to download. This is the biggest myth about Flash. Flash is designed to be both quick and effective; however it is only as good as the person using it, as it is an application based software.
- Flash is only a gimmick. This is not true as a Flash presentation can be very effective in marketing a product. It is important to use Flash only when necessary, overusing it can hinder your objectives as some people are only interested in quick information not a presentation.
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