Flash Web Design Tutorials

ArkiStan · 11-30-2008, 12:50 AM

I've used Adobe programs such as photoshop and illustator for the past 14-15 years, but I'm a complete newbie when it comes to web design. I have a rough idea of what my new website will look like and after consulting with a web designer friend, I've decided that Flash will be the program that best suits my design idea. There seem to be a lot of tutorials floating around the internet. Can somebody point me to a good website with beginner tutorials on using Flash for web design? Thanks!

Airencracken · 11-30-2008, 01:10 AM

Here's the best tip for using flash on a web site.

Don't.

ArkiStan · 11-30-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airencracken

Here's the best tip for using flash on a web site.

Don't.

Would you say that for every single type of website design? Or do you say that simply because you are a purist?

I don't really care what I end up using. I'm not trying to become a web designer. I just need to find out the easiest, most efficient way to create this website of mine. Could there ever be exceptions to your tip? If so, I will post a mockup of my website so you can determine if Flash is indeed not recommended.

Airencracken · 11-30-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkiStan

Would you say that for every single type of website design? Or do you say that simply because you are a purist?

I don't really care what I end up using. I'm not trying to become a web designer. I just need to find out the easiest, most efficient way to create this website of mine. Could there ever be exceptions to your tip? If so, I will post a mockup of my website so you can determine if Flash is indeed not recommended.

I don't do much web design myself, but I find as a user that Flash tends to be buggy, slow, and needlessly flashy, not to mention it is a bandwidth hog. There are very few websites I've seen that need flash.

It does depend on what you're doing and who will be your users, but generally, I dislike flash.

eSDee · 11-30-2008, 01:38 PM

Lynda.com is where I get my tutorials. They've got a lot of excellent videos on there for all kinds of applications.

Maarchk · 12-01-2008, 10:59 AM

Flash usually distracts from your message. People are like oooh cool graphics and they lose site of the point. Or they don't have the right player, or there is a bug between browsers and what should be cool, results in them not being able to click on menus because the flash effects make it disappear or do other stupid things.
A little flash can add a little flash...(no pun really intended) but it is better as just a touch up, and not as your base.
I use flash only to display video tutorials. the rest of my site is devoid of flash.

ArkiStan · 12-01-2008, 02:27 PM

Thanks guys. I'm gonna post up a mock up of my website in the next couple days. I hope people can tell me that it can be made without flash. I'd love to avoid using it if I can help it.

Maarchk · 12-01-2008, 09:24 PM

unless it's got action. you can do it in html. I imagine. but yes, show us.

sho.gun · 12-01-2008, 09:58 PM

Not sure why there's so much flash hate going on here, I think flash is simply a tool that can be used by both designers and developers. A tool can be misused, and I think that your problems regarding flash being slow and buggy lies not within the platform itself but rather on whoever did the sloppy coding. With a 98% install base, you'd be hard pressed to find an easier and more widely available platform with the same capabilities to code against.

The flash plugin is available for all major browsers and so far everything has been backwards compatible, even when they switched to AS3. Regardless, it's trivial to do a flash version check.

Regarding the bandwidth issue, it's 2008. Most of us are no longer using AOL dial up and we can spare the extra 50k of download time if it brings a richer user experience. I'd be interested in seeing the file size differences between flash swfs and some of the implementations using ajax frameworks that are widely in use today.

I've been an actionscript developer for a few years and even to this day I'm still impressed by how much flash has expanded. Keep in mind it used to be a simple animation program.

That being said, it's very important to know your target audience and the purpose of your site. If it's a reference site, you should avoid flash and stick to ye olde html.

Maarchk · 12-02-2008, 09:54 AM

I agree its very useful and cool sho.gun. But when you go to a site and it's not done right, it's really frustrating. Cause a menu that expands when you hover, and then you slide towards the option you want and it retracts on you really pisses me off and makes me not want to go to that site.

Seeing as how Arkistan is brand new to the game, I was simply trying to help him avoid any possible mistakes as first time people coming to his website might get turned off if the flash is not done right. That's why i said a little flash, but not a lot to start with.

11-30-2008, 12:50 AM	#1
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,757	Flash Web Design Tutorials I've used Adobe programs such as photoshop and illustator for the past 14-15 years, but I'm a complete newbie when it comes to web design. I have a rough idea of what my new website will look like and after consulting with a web designer friend, I've decided that Flash will be the program that best suits my design idea. There seem to be a lot of tutorials floating around the internet. Can somebody point me to a good website with beginner tutorials on using Flash for web design? Thanks! __________________ Please keep sigs 25kb or smaller.

11-30-2008, 01:10 AM	#2
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Upland, Ca. Posts: 6,578	Here's the best tip for using flash on a web site. Don't. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre Last edited by Airencracken : 11-30-2008 at 01:12 AM.

11-30-2008, 01:38 PM	#5
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,057	Lynda.com is where I get my tutorials. They've got a lot of excellent videos on there for all kinds of applications. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

12-01-2008, 10:59 AM	#6
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,052	Flash usually distracts from your message. People are like oooh cool graphics and they lose site of the point. Or they don't have the right player, or there is a bug between browsers and what should be cool, results in them not being able to click on menus because the flash effects make it disappear or do other stupid things. A little flash can add a little flash...(no pun really intended) but it is better as just a touch up, and not as your base. I use flash only to display video tutorials. the rest of my site is devoid of flash. __________________ "The girl is crafty like ice is cold." "I left my heart in san francisco... And my liver at Moe's Tavern." A real friend is one who listens to you as much as they talk to you.

12-01-2008, 09:58 PM	#9
sho.gun the lemonizer Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Calabasas, CA Posts: 5,364	Not sure why there's so much flash hate going on here, I think flash is simply a tool that can be used by both designers and developers. A tool can be misused, and I think that your problems regarding flash being slow and buggy lies not within the platform itself but rather on whoever did the sloppy coding. With a 98% install base, you'd be hard pressed to find an easier and more widely available platform with the same capabilities to code against. The flash plugin is available for all major browsers and so far everything has been backwards compatible, even when they switched to AS3. Regardless, it's trivial to do a flash version check. Regarding the bandwidth issue, it's 2008. Most of us are no longer using AOL dial up and we can spare the extra 50k of download time if it brings a richer user experience. I'd be interested in seeing the file size differences between flash swfs and some of the implementations using ajax frameworks that are widely in use today. I've been an actionscript developer for a few years and even to this day I'm still impressed by how much flash has expanded. Keep in mind it used to be a simple animation program. That being said, it's very important to know your target audience and the purpose of your site. If it's a reference site, you should avoid flash and stick to ye olde html. __________________

12-01-2008, 02:27 PM	#7
ArkiStan Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Recession Central Posts: 5,757	Thanks guys. I'm gonna post up a mock up of my website in the next couple days. I hope people can tell me that it can be made without flash. I'd love to avoid using it if I can help it.

12-01-2008, 09:24 PM	#8
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,052	unless it's got action. you can do it in html. I imagine. but yes, show us.

12-02-2008, 09:54 AM	#10
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,052	I agree its very useful and cool sho.gun. But when you go to a site and it's not done right, it's really frustrating. Cause a menu that expands when you hover, and then you slide towards the option you want and it retracts on you really pisses me off and makes me not want to go to that site. Seeing as how Arkistan is brand new to the game, I was simply trying to help him avoid any possible mistakes as first time people coming to his website might get turned off if the flash is not done right. That's why i said a little flash, but not a lot to start with.

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