Javascript or flash for animation?

by skyvia
35 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
  • |
Hi everyone,

I am trying to improve the animation of an ad on our web site. Currently it uses very simple javascript. However, I have seen easing performed with javascript on various web sites, and until now, I only thought you could do those types of techniques with flash. I was wondering what other cool tricks can be achieved with js?

Also, which do you think is the better method for web ads: transparent swfs or javascript? sources to good tutorials?

My goal is for something simple and professional, nothing too crazy.

Thanks in advance for the help.
#animation #flash #javascript
  • Profile picture of the author Jahnold
    You can do loads of different animation effects really easily using the jQuery UI. It can be found over at jQuery UI - Home

    I'd recommend using js over flash as you get the benefit of search engine spiders being able to read the alt tags in your images for extra SEO credit whereas they just ignore flash.
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    • Profile picture of the author joe12joe
      Same here, it is highly recommended to not use flash as flash and images are not read by Google crawlers. Therefore, it become useless as far as the SEO friendly website is concern. You may create lots of cool animations with Javascript as its more closer to HTML and search engine can easily read in HTML.
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      • Profile picture of the author inform
        Its very good move to make your website more attractive and informative through web animation and flash files.
        this technique is very useful foe those who want to make their website more powerful in a less contains.
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  • Profile picture of the author rajnish357
    I think you should use javascript instead of flash because flash can make ur site slow
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  • Profile picture of the author stealthpromo
    Flash is way more desirable than javascript for animation, period. Who wants to wait for an applet to load up? If its simple stuff you're after css can do the trick as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Victor
      Originally Posted by stealthpromo View Post

      Flash is way more desirable than javascript for animation, period. Who wants to wait for an applet to load up? If its simple stuff you're after css can do the trick as well.
      I second this. Don't believe all the false statements about Flash and SEO. The search engines have gotten really good at reading Flash.
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    • Profile picture of the author jminkler
      Originally Posted by stealthpromo View Post

      Flash is way more desirable than javascript for animation, period. Who wants to wait for an applet to load up? If its simple stuff you're after css can do the trick as well.
      Which? huh?
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    • Profile picture of the author msu
      Flash will be around for a while yet but it's definitely on its way out. For that reason along it makes sense to animate with javascript.

      Better yet, use a javascript library like jQuery where an awful lot of the heavy lifting has been done for you.

      @stealthpromo - there's no applet to load with javascript, you're thinking of java.
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  • Profile picture of the author iuditg
    Using javascript is advisable for SEO purpose
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    • Profile picture of the author staciejortega
      Originally Posted by iuditg View Post

      Using javascript is advisable for SEO purpose
      yes its true
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  • Profile picture of the author promo_guy
    Haven't tried this personally but the tutorial seems pretty easy to follow. Not sure if it's what you're after but thought I'd mention it

    Custom Animation Banner with jQuery | Codrops

    Demo: Custom Animation Banner with jQuery
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  • Profile picture of the author Revenant45
    First let me say that its hard to do better than Flash animation for websites. For those nice header slideshows to animated menu's.. there's simply a lot more you can do in Flash. I've been designing with Flash since its Macromedia days.

    Javascript with JQuery can do simple transitions and easing techniques.. even slideshows. Depending on the level of the animation effect, and where you want to introduce it in your website, is the deciding factor for me if I want to use Flash or Javascript.

    For very simple in-page easing such as fading something in and and out, or a glowing tab on hover, its quicker to use Javascript.

    Javascript is also more "mobile device friendly". Devices such as iPads and iPods don't do Flash at all unless hacked. On the other hand, they don't do Javascript very well either but at least its supported natively.

    However, I don't design websites for %100 mobile compatibility unless asked... it severely cripples what you can do as a designer and programmer.

    With that said, in order to become a more well-rounded programmer/designer, it would be in one's best interest to know both. ActionScript for Flash is very similar to Javascript... basically event listeners, arrays and functions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bob Phantom
    I wouldn't recomend flash at all!! either javascript or Jquery
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  • Profile picture of the author jminkler
    JavaScript and Canvas, check out Raphael

    Raphaël?JavaScript Library
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  • Profile picture of the author yourmobisite
    Hello..

    I would recommend you java script because flash content might effect on web site loading speed..
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    • Profile picture of the author genius007
      JavaScript is much better than Flash because Search engines can't read flash.
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  • Profile picture of the author godwinsam
    Hi,

    This script is for animating the menus

    unction init() {

    if(document.getElementById && document.createTextNode) {
    var menu = document.getElementById('menu');
    var anchors = menu.getElementsByTagName('a');
    for(var i=0, length=anchors.length;i<length;i++) {
    anchors[i].onmouseover= function() {
    var spot = -1;
    this.setAttribute('spot', spot);
    this.style.backgroundPosition= '15px 0px';
    }
    anchors[i].onmouseout= function() {
    var spot = 15;
    this.setAttribute('spot', spot);
    }
    }
    animate();
    }
    }

    function animate() {
    var menu = document.getElementById('menu');
    var anchors = menu.getElementsByTagName('a');
    for(var i=0, length=anchors.length;i<length;i++) {
    var spot = anchors[i].getAttribute('spot');
    if (spot>0) {
    spot = spot - 2;
    if(spot<0) spot = 0;
    anchors[i].style.backgroundPosition= spot+'px 0px';
    anchors[i].setAttribute('spot', spot);
    }
    }

    setTimeout(animate, 4);
    }
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    • Profile picture of the author edyculay
      Flash animation offers a very complex!
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      • Profile picture of the author kl2000
        Both Flash and jQuery have a learning curve. I would go with whichever one I felt most comfortable with. If you're wanting to make a more complex animation for your ad - use flash. For more subtle fades and transitions then use jQuery. Google indexes flash now - they created an algorithm back in 2008 that can read text within swf files. My 2 cents - Use Flash. You can put together a slick timeline animation fast. Hey 2 cents isn't worth much today though, right?
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  • Profile picture of the author shantanu
    USe flash animations instead of javascript coz flash animations are uitecool and clean and safe too, u didnt go through malicious codes of javascript sometime which never works and stop other codes fom their fucntionality too.
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  • Profile picture of the author megaquests
    id love to carry on developing in flash with actionscript.. it can do some very cool stuff that ive not seen matched with any other method especially using databases to drive the animation.. but it doesn't look like a bright future for flash thanks to apple... what are other actionscript animators planning to do ?
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  • Profile picture of the author herrald
    i think that more pro if we use JS,
    also Flash will make our site to slow
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  • Profile picture of the author WittyKris
    Flash is no good for SEO. Better use jQuery JS scripts for your animations as well as for your menus and sliders.
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    • Profile picture of the author megaquests
      Originally Posted by WittyKris View Post

      Flash is no good for SEO. Better use jQuery JS scripts for your animations as well as for your menus and sliders.
      agree.. i want to develop a database driven dynamic animation that can embed in any webpage.. seo is therefore not an issue..
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  • Profile picture of the author hiqasim
    In my opinion it is very good to make your website more attractive and informative through web animation and flash files.

    however JavaScript is much better than Flash because Search engines can't read flash.
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  • Profile picture of the author AleinaKoch
    There are a lot of JScript platforms to choose from but I prefer jQuery also. Stable and Reliable. You can search Google for free scripts and plugins for your website's animation module.
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  • Profile picture of the author YouJelly
    try to avoid flash, as u seen lately theres been a huge decrease in flash websites due to them being NOT search engine friendly!
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  • Profile picture of the author Anna7
    I think that you should use JavaScript. It is easier to use, for me anyway, and Mac products don't support Flash.
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  • Profile picture of the author 0oo0
    Anyone that knows anything about current web development would tell you to use HTML5/JS or a library.

    Flash is obsolete unless it's VERY specific or major a video content site.

    Anyone suggesting flash must be reading blogs from 05'
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  • Profile picture of the author hoffman
    Flash file be more attractive and informative. You can use different animation effect by using jQuery UI
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  • Profile picture of the author pinterest01
    i'd prefered flash animation, since java consume ur visitor cpu process.
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  • Profile picture of the author katepeter
    Flash animation file give more creativity to your web site it attract people towards your company ..!! but flash files make your web site more heavy ..!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Nouddytropy
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author 1byte
      Originally Posted by Nouddytropy View Post

      xhmrjtau frvuittonsoldes webnode fr/#8268]sac louis vuitton pas cherc mhiisqui <a href="frvuittonsoldes webnode fr/#9894">sac louis vuittoni</a> vyzypdyj frvuittonsoldes webnode fr/
      Your spam posts have been reported. Please await banishment!
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      • Profile picture of the author hiqasim
        I prefer Javascript because flash is dying these days. Google Apple have already ditched flash for HTML5
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