| Ever go to a web site that looked extremely | | | | exciting and more interesting to visit than |
| professional and hi-tech? Did icons move, | | | | HTML web sites. |
| animate, and make sounds when clicked? Ever | | | | |
| see one of those funny online cartoons? If | | | | Macromedia Flash can do some very amazing |
| you have, then you have had the privilege of | | | | things. As a result, many may have the |
| seeing flash animation in action. Macromedia | | | | perception that Flash has extremely |
| Flash, or more simply, "Flash," is a software | | | | complicated inner-workings that only the best |
| product that is used to design and deliver | | | | and brightest in civilization could ever |
| presentations, animations, and web sites. | | | | understand and subsequently master. This way |
| Flash has helped web designers around the | | | | of thinking could not be further from the |
| world create visually appealing web sites | | | | truth. Flash web sites, animations, etc. are |
| that come alive when accessed. Furthermore, | | | | all created utilizing a programming language |
| much of the greatest online political satire | | | | called ActionScript. Like almost any |
| today has been made using Flash technology. | | | | programming language, ActionScript can be |
| Macromedia Flash has changed the web and | | | | complicated to learn at first. However, with |
| allowed designers to create sites they were | | | | a little determination, almost anyone can |
| previously unable to make with simple HTML | | | | master the mechanics of ActionScript and |
| code. | | | | start to make beautiful Flash-supported |
| | | | movies and web sites. It is interesting to |
| Currently, Flash players can be found in over | | | | note that many programmers cite many |
| 90% of computers around the world. Many huge, | | | | similarities between ActionScript and Java. |
| global companies make use of flash on their | | | | Flash files are saved with a .swf extension. |
| home pages. Some of these web sites are | | | | SWF stands for Small Web File. Some users of |
| enhanced by the unique ability Flash has to | | | | ActionScript have complained about the |
| stream audio while animating and responding | | | | secrecy of their source code because the .swf |
| to action. The software product supports | | | | file format can be decompiled rather easily. |
| vectors, raster graphics, and ActionScript, | | | | ActionScript was first utilized on Flash |
| which make it highly versatile in use. With | | | | Player 2. Naturally, as technology had |
| the correct knowledge, creating a movie or | | | | progressed, the code has become more advanced |
| web site with Flash is considered to be | | | | and can now accomplish more tasks. Macromedia |
| fairly simple. Many Flash users maintain that | | | | Flash has been around since 1997 and has |
| Flash web sites are substantially superior to | | | | changed the face of the web community. |
| web sites backed by old-fashioned HTML code. | | | | Deciding to utilize Flash in your site is the |
| Additionally, people simply browsing the web | | | | first step to making a wonderful web site |
| maintain that Flash web sites are often more | | | | that will impress almost anyone. |