Flash Intro For Website

[Jay]

I need to create a small flash intro for my business web site. What I need is the easiest and most cost effective way for me to create this myself. I am no expert and I would say I am probably not even good enough to be called an amateur so please be gentle.

thanks

[mike_w]

Flash intros are generally a very bad idea. First of all, it assumes the user has Flash, which isn't always true. Second, Flash intros rarely contain anything useful. As a result, people automatically just skip a Flash intro, or, failing that, just close the web page.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20001029.html

[Jay]

its not my choice, believe me.

[Budding]

Swish is a very nice and easy to use Flash animator http://www.swishzone.com/index.php
It is not very expensive, and is excellent for Flash newbies.

[jimbouk]

Hmmm, maybe browse computer magazines for a wysiwyg flash maker on the cover disk. It'd be cheap and probably easy, as long as they don't want anything too fancy.

Pro packages like Dreamweaver have a flash side, you could try the demo but the pro version is going to be stupid money.

Quick google for |open source flash editor| gave me:
http://osflash.org/
and
http://www.flashmagazine.com/1243.htm

Good luck! (and don't forget accessability, everything needs a text alternative!)

[IBM]

Put all your time and energy into persuading whoever needs persuading that flash intros are one of the most pointless addons to websites ever created. They are terrible, and I often leave the site if I can't skip through whatever pointless animation companies are trying to make me watch....

What do they need to show that's so essential?

[ikonia]

Spend £11 on the book "home page usability" ISBN 0-7357-1102-x and show it to the person in "your" business who's forcing the issue with flash. Suggest he reads a few of the examples in the book, then lets you get on with what you want to get on with.

[Splash]

Spend £11 on the book "home page usability" ISBN 0-7357-1102-x and show it to the person in "your" business who's forcing the issue with flash. Suggest he reads a few of the examples in the book, then lets you get on with what you want to get on with.

Seconded. Both on the "Flash intros are the spawn of the devil" and "this is a bloody handy book to have at your fingertips" fronts. And I rarely do any web design. Usability is key.

[ikonia]

I don't do web design, but this book has been a life saver to myself, some clients, some web guys I know, some marketing people, some graphics designers.

Not a bad buy and strongly recommended. Served my well for years. I'm sure you can get an updated version now too, infact, I think I'll look for myself.

[jimbouk]

lol, if we're going down the don't do it route then open a few webpages in lynx. Maybe then they'll understand...

[kalniel]

Hehe.

Plus flash intros stop everyone using my motherboard from running 1t mem timings

[Nemeliza]

If you do decide to go ahead with the into (please dont, huge waste of time & resources, 98% of time serve no real purpose!), make sure you have a clearly labelled 'SKIP' button.

If you are new to flash then it is quite time consuming to create decent effects, i sugest searching google for tutorials (there are millions) that showcase the type of effects you want to use then combine them.
If you are happy spending some money then get a good book or even better...purchase some video tutorials.

[Jay]

thanks for all your advice. One the share holders get fed up with the flash intro i'll remove it.

[ikonia]

your a technology company and your share holders are advising you to buck the technology trend and potentially alienate your client base ?

Technology companies should know better and you'll look bad on this. Its like an IT hosting provider sending out spam mail on how to block spam.

If these are the guys guiding your business are you sure you want to be in business with them ?

[Jay]

sorry but we are not a tech company I just do all the tech side of it.

The company is in the field of Brain Injury Rehab.

I can see how people are confused here (and its my fault). The website is my creation the business is not mine.

Stupid me put "My business website", I think I had been awake for 22+ hours at that point.