Flash or non Flash website?

Question

My friend is a talented illustrator / designer / photographer etc. She can create Flash sites but remains with the usual html site. So we both agreed to give the decision to you: should she or should she not Flash her site ? Also (she promises to add an image & photo gallery of her work) but any suggestions on what is missing in her site ?

Answer 1

Your friend and I have the same situation, flash website is in my heart, but to think, flash website is just another way of presentation.

I end up using HTML tandem with (PHP/MYSQL/JS//PHOTOSHOP/FLV/AI/CSS). You can easily customize your website and more manageable using those tools.... Not Just flat FLASH WEBSITE



And in HTML, you're site is more ready to become a dynamic rather than static web site...



And you've mention that she is great in photography, well in a dynamic web site, she could upload any kind of her masterpiece, put it in a picture gallery, send it to mail etc..



=) Now? choose? =)

Answer 2

We web site can have both Flash and a non-flash version as Urban mentioned. However... (read on)

Let us first understand "why" you want to have Flash? Is it to display your friend's work? (Display her portfolio?) Is there a requirement for animation (like a slideshow)? Do you want interactivity? Do you think Flash will be able to represent her work well? Do you want Flash because you feel it will make your site look better?



Before we answer these questions, remember you can have both versions on a web site. You can provide a choice to the visitor to view the web site in Flash or in plain HTML.



1. Flash is good because it is a better technology (in my opinion) to present portfolios. You can create slideshows and what-not adding lots of interactivity which is possible (if at all) only if you use JavaScript with HTML. (by the way, slideshows and interactivity can also be developed in Java but that's an overkill esp. when you have JavaScript or Flash to do just that)

2. Flash is better for displaying animation - corresponding animated gifs are much larger in file size. Further, Flash animations (or Flash movies) are "smoother" than gifs and since Flash is a vector based program the aminations come out very well.

3. Flash is good when you want to display works created in Flash (obviously)

4. Use Flash if you want to get out of the "box" layouts of HTML (thus, you can have very creative designs and layouts in Flash).



OK, so WHY have HTML version if Flash just does things better - Because Flash is TERRIBLE with search engines. Do go by rumours - Flash movies still cannot be accessed and read well (or indexed and ranked) by search engines.

The use of Flash on your site is also determined by the "kind" of visitors you would get. If you feel that prospective visitors will not have highend software/hardware (for example, the elderly or the visually-disabled), there is no need of Flash.



Remember the main purpose of a web site is not to please you or your friend or your boss or whoever... A web site sould be able to get visitors. This can only happen if you put a good amount of "meaningful" content for both the human visitors and search engine bots.



We create Flah web sites (or part-flash webites) ONLY when we think it is required. The main emphasis is and ahs always been on content development.



So coming back to our point of discussion - create two versions of the web site (if you feel you cannot do without Flash), else just represent her work (portfolio) in Flash. For further reading (advantages and disadvantages of Flash) http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/tips/webdesign/flash_web_site_intros_usage_advantages_disadvantages.php3

Answer 3

Flash is amazingly useful, and swf's optimized wisely can load extremely right now EVEN on slower connections, whether to maintain a information superhighway internet site in flash is greater artwork than a information superhighway internet site made in wordpress. in case you're merchandising a product that would not arise to date too normally or could be scaled into an elementary format which would be as much as date certainly/normally then Flash is definatley a thank you to bypass. yet once you're engaged on a internet site that demands many updates on a on a regular basis foundation or something similiar, then it could be a competent theory to look into employing a blogger engine like wordpress through fact it does extremely some the artwork for you and all you will desire to do is do the atypical artwork on widgets here and there.

Answer 4

As a web designer I suggest for non flash website because it is easy to navigate and the user can easily find information on your site. For seo purposes it is not advisable to design a flash site because it is not easily crawl but there is a solution for that. If you want a flash site, you need to consider the loading time of your flash site, put a link whether to a flash site or go to static site, so the user can choose and put a navigation button.

Answer 5

I don't see any flash on her page.



I think a mix would be your best bet. I find fully flash sites to be annoying honestly. But, they do make photographer sites look great.



The core of it should be in HTML/PHP/ASP/Etc. but Flashy Flash would be nice if it was done artistically.



In other words. Just use the flash to make the page look better, but keep it's HTML Roots.

Answer 6

you can have both.



on the welcome site post the link for both of them.