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Explanation of applications of Adobe Flash. Also refer to animations, splash page, interactive, buttons, menus, demonstrations, simulations, Java, JavaScript, GIF animation, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Applications of Flash

by Ron Kurtus (revised 3 February 2001)

The reason to use Adobe Flash is usually to provide a solution or to satisfy the need of the Web site owner. Typically, Flash is used to create a company image through animations and special effects in the splash page or even throughout the site, establish better user understanding through demonstrations and simulated processes, and/or entertain or educate through animated cartoons and games.

Questions you may have about Flash applications are:

• What type of company image can be created?
• What types of educational demonstrations can be used?
• How is Flash used for entertainment?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Image

Companies, organizations, and even individuals use such things as logos, business cards, and letterheads to create an image of quality work, artistic abilities, or technical expertise. They can also use Flash effects on their Web pages to create the desired image.

Using Flash effects because they are "cool" is fine with personal Web sites, but it has no place in business. Every effect and animation must provide a business message.

Marketing image

Some Web sites use a splash page to provide a marketing image. A splash page usually shows a company logo in animation or provides some pizzazz to the Web site, before getting to the meat of the site. There are different opinions on the effectiveness of a splash page.

An example of a splash page, using a Flash animation is at Splash.

Quality image

Using animated buttons and pop-up menus adds a feeling of quality to a Web site, as long as it is not overdone to the point of slowing things down or being irritating. Some of these effects enhance the navigation of the site.

Animated buttons

An animated button changes its shape and/or color when the mouse is over it and when it is clicked. The same effect can be done with JavaScript or Java. It is a popular effect that has a gee-whiz value.

Click example of an animated button.

Text pop-ups

Instead of having a button change its shape or color when the mouse is over it or over an image, text can be made to pop-up to explain some material or the image. This is also often done in JavaScript, although it may be easier to set up in Flash.

Click example of a text pop-up.

Menu pop-ups

A menu can also be made to pop up when the mouse is over a button or text, allowing the choice of a sub-item.

Simulations

Educational and commercial sites can use demonstrations and simulations to explain a process. For example, a vacuum cleaner company could demonstrate how well their product cleans floors with a Flash movie. An online science could show how various physical processes work.

Simulation of electrons moving through a wire

Entertainment

Shockwave.com is a site sponsored by Adobe that is used to showcase animations and interactive Web entertainment using Flash and the high-end Adobe Director. The site gets around 5 million visitors a month, making it the leading destination for online entertainment.

Summary

Flash can be used to create a technical, marketing, or quality company image. Typical applications of Flash are animated splash screens, interactive buttons and menus, simulations, and entertainment animations.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Know what your purpose is, in work and in life

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Flash Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Flash

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. How can an animation enhance a company's image?

2. What do animated buttons add to a site?

3. What use is an animated demonstration?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Flash development. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Flash topics

Applications of Flash