Macromedia has taken the internet world by storm with its introduction of
Flash a few years ago. What started as an animation tool has evolved into
a full website development tool. After clinching several deals with major
supporters like Microsoft and AOL the flash plugin is now standard on most
browsers and is installed on 80% of them worldwide. What this means to you
is that if you build it surfers will come.
After reading this article you should have a better understanding of how
Flash works, where to get a demo version, and how to get free flash
programs to run on your website.
First let's get through the technical jargon.
Flash creates graphics in what is called a vector format. Meaning that
unlike gifs or jpegs, which remember each pixel in the graphic, vectors
remember the mathematical equation of the graphic and the color that fills
it. Therefore vector graphics are usually smaller in file size and can be
scaled to any monitor size without any loss of quality. Gifs and jpegs
get blurry when made larger . Since flash is just a series of mathematical
equations and formulas full Flash 4 interfaces can be as small as 20 kilobytes.
The newest version of Flash is number 4. Unlike its predecessors Flash 4
has most and if not more functionality than java, javascript, and dynamic
html. Flash 4 goes beyond animation and allows you to have drag and drop
interfaces, rollovers, input forms, drop-down menus, and database
interactivity. It even has its own programming language called
"ActionScript" which is excellent for games and interaction.
Flash Resources:
One website which offers Flash games and puzzles for you to download for
free to use on your website is:
www.thepuzzlefactory.com ThePuzzleFactory.com uses Flash 4 to its fullest
with interactive games and challenging puzzles.
Since Flash has become a standard on the internet several companies have
created programs to accompany your development. Screenweaver.com has
released a program called Screenweaver which takes your Flash animations
and turns them into screensavers for visitors to download from your
website. Another site, www.swifftools.com has several programs to help you
once your skills become more advanced.
Along with several websites and newsgroups there are newsletters and books
out there to help you along. The top two books out there are Flash 4 Magic
and Flash Animation. Flash 4 is a selection of 24 tutorials ranging from
simple to complex. Flash Animation is a nuts & bolts book for beginners
and experts alike.
A fully functional Flash 4 demo is available at www.macromedia.com The
demo includes several flash files to look through and also has a full
tutorial to guide you through your first project. The demo last for 30
days, which gives you plenty of time to learn and design your first flash
animation.

About the Author
Robert Walters is the head of technology at BigCityDesign.com and the
creator of ThePuzzleFactory.com. When not programming Rob can be seen at
Triathlons around the world at www.transitiontimes.com