Expert: LizaL - 6/8/2005

Question
Hello.  I'm using ImageReady 2.0 for basically the first time.  Also using Photoshop 5.5 on Win 2000.  I've started with a multi-layered image from Photoshop and, in ImageReady tweened the opacity from layer 1 into layer 2 into layer 3 etc.  While the image is on layer 1, I'd like to hyperlink to URL X.  When it transitions to layer 2, I'd like it to hyperlink to URL Y.  Etc.  I've tried using the URL field on the Slices tab of the Animation palette.  However, when I change the URL on one frame, it changes all the frames.  Any advice on how to change the URLs based on individual frames?

Answer
Hi Joe,

I'm sorry, but once again I was unable to access this site yesterday. I've found it to be problematic, and I apologize on the part of AllExperts, as the questioners are forced to wait, due their faulty server/site/whatever.

Anyway, to answer your question, I don't think you can do what you want to do, in ImageReady -- at least, not to my knowledge. As far as I've always known, an animation in ImageReady is based on a certain set of frames, and those frames are all dependent on each other to remain as a set. So whatever you do to one frame will somehow affect the next frame, etc. -- as in the way tweening affects the next frame.

What comes to mind for me is that perhaps you could create more than one animation -- say, for instance, you could break your animation up into 3 animations that would run consecutively. You could have the link to URL X in the first animation, then the next animation would contain URL Y, and so on.

I'm assuming you'll be inserting the HTML for this into a Web page, and if that's true, you could tweak the code there to make each animation play sequentially.

However - and this is a big however -- I've not done this, and I haven't tested out this theory. I don't do animations in ImageReady; I do animation using Flash MX, and if it's a big, complex job, I'll use Director. I used to use ImageReady years ago for simple things, but to be quite honest, I don't use it at all any more.

So I did a little research and gathered some links, and maybe these will help you more than I have.

-- Creating image maps in ImageReady
http://www.adobe.com/products/adobemag/archive/pdfs/98auhtjc.pdf

-- You might want to check this forum fairly thoroughly; the third post says you can't do what you want to do, yet they don't say why. I'd be interested in knowing if that guy can explain. It's an old topic, though, but you might be able to start a new thread.
http://www.searchengineforums.com/apps/webmaster.forums/action::thread/thread::1...

-- This is apparently part of a Photoshop course. You might be able to contact the instructor and ask them.
http://people.artcenter.edu/~vanallen/web1/2003sp/web1_wk10a.html


If all else fails, you can send me your file and I'll be happy to take a look and try and help you figure it out: lizal@little-works.com


Lisa