Flash Design Does It Really Deliver What Is Promised?

Written by Jody Hatton


Flash design? Is it all it's cracked up to be? In this article, we'll be confronting allrepparttar questions head on: What is Flash? What's good about it? What's bad about it? And, most importantly, what will it do for your online business?

INTRODUCTION

When Flash was first introduced by FutureWave Inc. in August 1996, it was known as "FutureSplash Animator." Macromedia acquired FutureWave in December and renamedrepparttar 134786 application to "Flash." What made FutureSplash unique wasrepparttar 134787 fact that FutureSplash's images were created in "vector format."

As you may know, most images you see onrepparttar 134788 Web (such asrepparttar 134789 logo that appears on http://www.worlddesignservices.com/), are drawn by thousands, sometimes even millions, of colored square dots known as "pixels." Any image that displays shapes using pixels (called a "raster image") can have a significantly large file size sincerepparttar 134790 color and location of each dot must be recorded insiderepparttar 134791 image file.

The vector graphic, onrepparttar 134792 other hand, is an image type that uses mathematical equations to define lines and shapes. For example, a drawing of a circle uses only a single curved line, rather than relying on hundreds (or even thousands) of pixels to create an image. This not only results in a drastic decrease in file size, but also an increase in image quality. Vector graphics can be scaled up or down and never lose their sharp lines, whereas raster images end up looking "chunky." For a side-by-side comparison of vector and raster images, have a look atrepparttar 134793 following page: http://www.worlddesignservices.com/designtips/flash/

Because Flash relies mostly on vector graphics to display text and images, it delivers excellent image quality and exceptionally small file sizes. Onrepparttar 134794 Internet, where no two users are ever connected at exactlyrepparttar 134795 same speed atrepparttar 134796 same time, this reduced download is always appreciated.

THE GOOD

Inrepparttar 134797 unlikely event that you've never seen a Flash animation before, have a look atrepparttar 134798 banner onrepparttar 134799 top of http://www.internetcashplanet.com/. Not only does it look great, but it MOVES; Flash, when created properly, will deliver any message you want and keep your audience interested.

Gone arerepparttar 134800 days of slow downloads and endless reading! As you've seen fromrepparttar 134801 previous comparisons, Flash banners deliver sharp, great-looking graphics which load quickly and get your message to your viewer fast. Flash banners also get read more often than your basic static HTML page because they haverepparttar 134802 ability to move smoothly, whereas traditional animated web graphics are clunky at best. Everybody knowsrepparttar 134803 30-second rule, which dictates that you MUST make an impression on your viewer within 30 seconds of them hitting your site if you want them to respond to your offers. Since this rule is ALWAYS in effect, a Flash banner's ability to transmit a message quickly, smoothly, and effectively is always worthrepparttar 134804 investment.

The application of Flash reaches far beyondrepparttar 134805 simple animated banner. Worldprofit's new "Ultimate Home Business Promo," when it was first released, generated so many responses, they were difficult for us to keep up with! Once you have a look at http://www.worldprofit.com/uhbp/, you'll probably understand why. Flash, when created properly, not only hasrepparttar 134806 power to captivate your site viewers, it also hasrepparttar 134807 power to strike emotional chords and make your viewers feel whatever you want them to: excitement, hope, enthusiasm.

THE BAD

Up until last year, Flash banners could only be made usingrepparttar 134808 "Macromedia Flash" utility. For many, it was a difficult program to master, and creating evenrepparttar 134809 simplest of banners could be a week-long project. However,repparttar 134810 recent introduction of third-party applications such as Swish (http://www.swishzone.com) and SwFX (http://www.wildform.com/) have made it much easier to create animated banners that userepparttar 134811 same file format as Flash.

A Revealing Interview with A Design & Marketing Expert

Written by Cris Anderson


This week we asked one of Worldprofit.com's senior designers, Cris Anderson, to comment on some ofrepparttar key elements of effective design. Here isrepparttar 134785 interview in it's entirety.

Q: Why should a business hire a professional designer and marketer?

A: A professional designer and marketer will be able to evaluate your needs and give you a site that is effective. Here are a few things that we consider that an amateur will not.

It is crucial that you have a complimentary layout torepparttar 134786 content of your site. There is no point in having a long extended full screen web page when you only have one image and a single paragraph of copy.

The appropriate images must be used and placement is a main factor. Using improper images can actually confuse visitors and that isrepparttar 134787 last thing that we want to do.

The file sizes must be minimized. If it takes too long for your pages to load, then people will leave.

Marketing is ofrepparttar 134788 utmost importance. An effective marketer will know how to keep people at your site and help you make sales. We look at sites and think they are properly designed, but when they are compared to ones that have been created by a professional, we realize that they have not considered all ofrepparttar 134789 factors above. Don't take chances with your company's reputation. Get a professional designer and marketer to work with you and create that effective site that you need.

Q: What should businesses look for in hiring a web site designer?

A: Look at their portfolio. When you see quality from a designer, then quality is what you will get. Often I see design companies that have portfolios that look like they just started last week. You do not have to likerepparttar 134790 colors or evenrepparttar 134791 layout, but consider ifrepparttar 134792 site is effective. If I complete a dog grooming site, then look atrepparttar 134793 site and ask yourself, "Is this site effective? What arerepparttar 134794 benefits for me? What do I get? Why should I stick around?" If you go to a site that you wouldn't even want to stay at, then why would you want that same designer to make a site for you?

Q: Cris, tell me what you think isrepparttar 134795 biggest mistake people make in their web sites?

A: I believe that people are overly concerned with inundating their site with dynamic elements. Let me explain. Dynamic means: "Of or relating to energy or to objects in motion." Static means that nothing is moving. We often think dynamic is better that static. This is not alwaysrepparttar 134796 case. Yes, a flash presentation or banner is a vital element to success of your site, but if it is designed improperly, then it is just an eyesore. Inrepparttar 134797 same regard, having a static site with no flash or javascripts or any type of motion can be so beautifully laid out and effectively marketed. We don't need scripts or animated gifs all over our sites to make them effective. People do indeed enjoy motion, so my suggestion is this: limitrepparttar 134798 energy on your site to focus on one thing. This thing should make you money or bring visitors back. Add flash to your site and looserepparttar 134799 annoying animated gifs. Flash can market your site, whereas animated gifs are often a distraction.

Q: What factors do you consider when it comes to use of color in a site?

A: As a professional designer for many years, it is my job to knowrepparttar 134800 --ins and outs-- of color. I do not choose color based on, "Red is pretty." In certain cultures, color can represent very negative connotations then in other cultures. You must determine whorepparttar 134801 majority of your audience is. Also, there are many color studies that play a part in choosing color. Did you know that when subjects were placed in different rooms painted with certain colors, that yellow made people visibly agitated within minutes! Color is taken very seriously and chosen to complimentrepparttar 134802 theme and product of a site. If I do a site for a hiking company, then I will undoubtedly use earth tones, whereas a cruise site will get "sunny and warm" colors. I think most of us can agree that grays are not a good choice for a cruise site!

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