* Anim-fx for text animation
As you might have guessed from the last issue, I’m on a Flash kick. My interest comes about for two reasons: The first reason is that Flash content is reputed to be viewable by more than 95% of Web users. Second, the tools for creating and managing Flash content are fantastic. I would say there’s a good argument that Flash is the best presentation tool available.
Today I have a gem for you: a product from Triple W communications (see editorial links below). Called Anim-fx, it is a tool for creating Flash intros, banners and text effects with Flash templates.
This tool, which runs under Windows, is insanely easy to use! You just enter the various parameters such as the text to animate (you can use up to five lines); the size, font color and position of the text; and the URL to go to on a mouse click, as well as the URL to jump to at the end of the animation. You can also configure whether the animation should loop, and how many times, or not loop at all, whether the animation should freeze at the end, the target frame for links, the background color (transparency is supported) and sound effects.
Most critically, you can select the animation style. The animation styles are wonderful! Not only are they creative but also they have that elegance that makes them suitable for the most sophisticated of Web sites.
The only complaint I have is that the only font available is Bank Gothic Medium – a very clean, multipurpose font but one that might be limiting for more flowery presentations.
Anim-fx is compatible with Flash 5 and Flash MX, as well as most HTML editors including Dreamweaver, Frontpage, Coolpage, etc. For $27, this product is outstanding value.
