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Things to consider with Flash

June 17th, 2009

Adobe Flash CS4

photo credit: Thiemo Gillissen

By Matt Cook
Point.Click Media

Flash is a very popular vector-based animation software. The software allows you to draw, create, animate and program complete interactive applications that can either be published to the web or used in various other forms of digital media. However, as with most web development tools, there are some pros and cons to ponder. If you’re thinking about using Flash to develop your website, here are a few items to consider before you begin:

1. The Flash Plugin

Most internet browsers now come with the Flash Player plugin already installed, but people with older versions of browsers may not have the plugin, or they may have no interest in installing it. Also, some portable devices such as the iPod and iPhone are not yet compatible with Flash. Make sure you identify your target audience.

2. Download Time

Flash movies tend to gain large file sizes rather quickly. This can cause items to display improperly, or worse, not at all. The traditional solution is to attach what is commonly called a “pre-loader”. This method effectively loads all of the graphics and files contained within your Flash movie before displaying the end product to the user. The common rule is that you have 3 seconds to grab the users attention before they move on. Do you really want those 3 seconds to be “10% loaded… 20% loaded… 30% loaded”?

3. SEO Capabilities

Flash does not handle text very well. It displays text virtually as an image which search engines have trouble reading. This has been one of the biggest flaws of the Flash software since bursting onto the web. With search engine optimization (SEO) becoming such a key portion of online marketing, more now than ever, if search engines can’t find your text, they’ll have nothing to scan, and therefore nothing to rank you with. Since purchasing Macromedia (the original creators of Flash), Adobe has pushed hard toward making text in Flash readable by search engines. They’ve made progress, but it’s not quite ready for prime time just yet.

4. Non-Vector Images

Non-vector images are very difficult for Flash to process. This includes items such as photographs. Flash has difficulty storing the existing pixel data from photographs. First, Flash quickly becomes mired in attempting to animate photographs, and second, Flash cannot store the memory of these photos. Unlike a browser that can store an image in its memory in a cache for future use, Flash needs to reload the image every time. This will obviously cause additional download time for your users.

The goal of this article is not to deter anyone from using Flash on your website. It is simply to educate. Flash is a fantastic tool that, when used properly, allows you to enhance your website and really give it some punch. As with most things though, Flash is best used in moderation.

If you’re wondering how Flash can help enhance your current website and the possibilities that may exist, contact Point.Click Media.

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Posted in Web Tools on June 17th, 2009

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