FLASH: Flash3, Toy or serious designer tool?

[David Gary]

THis post is directed toward MM, but Id thought I'd throw it up on the list

to see if it would get some response and input from professional designers.


I think theres been a huge change in effectiveness from FLash2 to FLash3.

With the introduction of MC(movie clips), this has somewhat provided Flash's

own Lingo. Also with great addition, is Load movie features. This can keep the

designer with loading only one HTML doc, with designing an "All Flash" site

without the viewer waiting for the entire site to load at once or have to skip

and load

other time consuming HTML.


Also transparencies and animated buttons is a major improvement of the 2.


However I think a few things might need to be pointed out. For one: most FLash3

sites still have that that sore "vector vs. jpg" thumb. THis means when tying in


Vector images with imported jpgs, they usually dont complement one another

since Vector is so crisp and images exported in Flash have awful "banding"

habits.

Lossless is a optional feature, but impractical in a 28.8 world.


Another main problem is the limitations of gradients in FLash3's tools.

THis is one of its major downfalls and keeps it very limited for the designer.

With only Linear and radial gradients, Flash is greatly limited and is starting

to

become the "newbie" cartoon proggy for the net, instead of a serious interfae

creator.


Most Flash sites that take advantage of gradients tend to be ether, Square or

round,

i.e. the eye sore 3D ball or Cube. Without more gradient power, i.e. Airbrush

like

tool that directs the soft edges, we will see more of these "havent I been here"

sites.


Also without 3D support, Flash will be in contention to battle larger company

products

that have bigger budgets to push them to the forefront. "Chrome effects" come to


mind from Microsoft. 3D is in big demand an would greatly improve Flash's future


existence.


Flash3 has some nice powerful new features, but only in the interactive

implement

area. The "Tool" area is still very limited to the artist and tends to mirror

shareware,

dimpy graphic proggys. Ive seen more options in Win95 paint.


And 98% of Flash sites you see will still remain to look the same, until the

"Tool" area

is revised.


Of course this is my 2, but I thought it would stir up some conversation of the

real

needs of developers. I believe these things should not sparingly be placed on a

"wish

list", but seriously discussed by developers to help the proggers at MM really

etch our

future in stone. This is "our" future. Macromedia has developed one helluva

"eyebrow" lifter, but at this point, it is still an "eyebrow" lifter and not

much else. If we all spend our time in using this new technology then I think

its about time to join in and help these guys keep creating the "new" standard.


Well?


-DG-








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