In the earlier sessions you have been introduced with animated graphic which has .gif format. This format is simple an can be easily opened and enjoyed even with only double clicked on it. But unfortunately this format is good only for small object since it has big size and also fit particularly for vector graphic – not for photo.
If you open a webpage, most of the animation use flash, ie .swf (shockwave flash). Don’t be confuse with .flv (flash movie) – I will elaborate it in the movie’s sessions. We can use .swf for presenting clips but it is limited for maximum 16,000 frames – or it about 120 seconds ordinary movie clip. For longer ones, it might have problem with the audio. You have many advantages with .swf files, such as the possibility to make a good transparency and use script action, but to open it you have to install flash player. If you use PowerPoint, you can embed it in your presentation. Mostly people create animation for webpage, so most of the flash authorization software have the facility to create the html page along the .swf file.
To learn the basic principle of flash file, the best way is by using Macromedia Flash 8 or the newest one Adobe Flash CS but it will need more time for you. Since we would not go so deep in this tutorial, I will introduce you some easier software to create flash animation objects.
Nowadays, you can find many flash object maker software, even the free ones. This time I choose “Advance Effect Maker”, that you can download here. After download it, open the software. You can find out what kinds of objects you can create with .swf format.
Now there are two version of Advance Effect Maker free edition. I prefer the old 1.5 version, since I don’t have any intention to buy any plugin. The new 2.0 version produce .swf files with advertisement in the loading time – as most of freewares do.
Do this first exercise :
- Open your “Advance Effect Maker”.
- Download this image file, or you can use your own image for the animation – make the size 450 x 300 px.
- Choose “Messenger” by clicking the tiny (+) sign, then double click “StarMessage”. A dialog box will come out, just click OK.
- Set the height to 300, also put the name of file. You can also choose the color, font, message, stars. In tab “other”, put your image file as background by browsing it.
- if everything ready, then click “create applet”. Your animation will come out in your browser.
- You can do “save as” to save the .swf file in a folder, but actually your animation is already in your project folder : C:\Program Files\Mandomartis\Advanced Effect Maker\projects. You also can copy and paste through from folder.
Rmember that you will not able to see your animation if you don’t have flash media player installed in your computer. Enjoy your animation!
You can see mine here.
