Flash
is actually a brand name for software produced by Macromedia
that produces high-quality animation. Pretty much everything
you see on the Web that looks amazing involving animation
uses Flash. This includes high-end, popular sites such as
msnbc.com, which uses Flash on the pop-up menu navigation
bar. The image to the right is an example of a simple, fast-loading
Flash animation.
But do all Computers Have the Ability to View Flash?
To view Flash animation on your computer, it's necessary to
have a Flash Plug-in. This is a small download that now comes
with all new versions of Windows since Windows 98 (for Mac
users, since Mac OS 8.x). 89% of browsers out there have Flash
right now. That means 89% of the viewers are ready to view
Flash, with no downloading of plug-ins necessary. Occasionally
there will be a user out there with a very outdated version
of a browser who won't be able to view Flash without getting
the Plug-in. This is why a good website will allow the user
to opt out of the Flash portion. Or, if your entire site is
in Flash, the user can choose to look at your site in quick-loading
HTML.
Why Use Flash?
Effective use of Flash can make for a stunning and unmistakably
professional-looking website. There will be no doubt your
company is serious about attracting customers and providing
the best products or services available. A good Flash designer
can also integrate original Flash designs with your company's
logo or existing photos to create a million-dollar look for
your website.
What About Download Times?
Flash movies don't have to be huge, so they don't have to
take long to download. They can have preloaders so they maintain
their appearance even though someone might have a slow connection.
However, if you want to have a really in-depth Flash movie
with a lot of Flash animation, you can
give users the choice to skip over the Flash and go right
to the heart of your site (the quick-loading HTML portion).
Examples
Flash Interactive: Rotational
Motion
Full Flash Site: drconsite
(for DSL connections)
Flash Gallery: Diane
Postell
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