Re: FLASH: Running-performance question

[David Gary]

"Lena Bj�rklund" wrote:


> Hi.

> I was wondering how you skilled Flash-producers solve problems

> concerning different performance of your movies on different platforms.

> Myself  I am working on a Mac with 275 mhz processor and 56 kps modem,

> quite an ordinary equipment for an average user, I think. On a machine

> that has 400 mhz processor my movies run far too quickly and sound files

> don�t synchronize.


Hiya Lena,


Your questions depend on your target audience. Alot of new flash

developers(non-traditional web design)

make the mistake of assuming that what they see on their computer is what

everyone will see. That is far

from the truth. I found that out on my own. As in traditional webdesign, new

developers are unaware

of the slew of sometimes unavoidable problems that can occure, from platform

to platform, browser to

browser. This is one reason I chose Flash for interactive development for

web presence. Java applets,

Gif animations, and unoptimised static images have given graphics on the web

a bad name and sometimes are not worth

using. Anyway, enough of my rabbling.


Just as any project, you figure out what your (or client's) target audience

is. What content are you delivering? Do

you really need Flash to deliver it? Do you know enough about the medium to

deliver it successfully/professionally?


I develop most graphics on 2 workstations(p400/128m/Win95/NT) I do all

testing on low end system( p133) which is

is about as low as most flash sites need to be optimised for. I also develop

for 56k leaving a little leaway for 28.8 users.


Again, all this depends on the target audience. If its for the masses,

develop and test for the lowest common denominator.

I've had a few complaints about my personal site, that the navigation was

slow, therefore time consuming and took away from the effectivness. After

some research I found out most of these visitors were on p133, 166, and 200.


I was designing for no less than a p233 performance since my target audience

was not everyone.


Optimize as much as possible, but dont let your own work suffer if you are

not targeting the masses. However if your

commissioned by a client or broker, then learn what the audience is and

develop/test accordingly.



Also I make it a rule of thumb to always development movies at 30 fps. Then

I test on lowest system targeted. Then

when testing on fast system I can reduce framerate if necessary. This

usually will not effect low end while still controlling

high end animation rate.



hth,


-DG-


________________________


-David Gary-

Interactive Producer/Designer

http://www.davidgarystudios.com

dgarystudiosmpinet [dot] net (mailto:dgarystudiosmpinet [dot] net)

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