SPLASH!

While visiting web sites of companies in my local area today, I ran into several splash intro pages. You know, those intro pages with big Flash animations welcoming you to the web site. Completely unnecessary pre-home pages.

NOTE:

This practice of adding a splash page is outdated. It also fails to add informational or entertainment value as 100% of visitors will skip the intro.

TIPS:

1. Web site animations should serve a purpose, help users reach a goal, learn something.
2. Animations which are purely decorative are annoying and useless.
3. Animations should give users the option to stop, pause, play, skip, fast-forward, rewind.
4. Animations and/or videos should also give users some feedback — as in length of animation, download progression, etc.

EXAMPLE

After a recent downpour, my roof leaked and ruined the drywall in the ceiling. What to do? Here’s an animation that’s functional and understandable. It is easy to follow, clearly showing the steps for repairs. It includes the text in addition to audio. And, it has the options to stop, pause, play, fast forward, etc. Great job! (By the way, I’ve personally worked with Easy2 DIY programs and staff, and they are absolutely great. Maybe I’ll do a review on their software…)

What is it?

Dynamic Flash Photo Gallery

It’s a free flash template that allows you to include a gallery section on your personal or commercial website. It has a slick taupe/plum layout with electronic music playing in the background. There are tons of free galleries out there, this is just one. It’s quick to set up and gives you several options to customize.

Who needs it?

Anybody who wants a quick online photo gallery using Flash.

PROS and CONS

PROS: Installation is a breeze. It’s a 73 MB download, you can have your photos up and running within hours. You can have several photo categories, have captions on photos, and can adjust the layout of your gallery.

CONS: You can’t really change the colors or the music, as the original flash files aren’t included.

Installation

Watch the short flash video to learn how to install and customize your gallery. You can get to the admin panel through “admin/index.html” and can view your photo gallery at “flash_gallery/screenshots/14288.html”

Editing

Editing the template itself (gallery title, page names, etc.) is simple, and is done in the file “flash_gallery/screenshots/14288_main.html”. You only need a slight knowledge of HTML to make changes here.

The template uses PHP, so edit the recipient to send contact form emails to your email address. Then upload to your server. Get more info on working with the gallery here.

** Call Mindspring Design at (856) 393-0385 for your own personal, customized photo gallery. **

Flash Photo Galleries for Sale: