Expert: Andrew Ransavage - 1/2/2008

Question
Hi Andrew,

I'm a complete bozo when it comes to this stuff, so bear with me!

I'm looking at various site creating hosting options for my online store - specifically, easysitecreator.com.
Although they promise to create the template of my choice, everything I see as samples are drab, boxy, generic...

I also have the option of just inserting my own html to create my own template... I have DreamWeaver 4(I know, ancient), so I thought "cool, this will be easy... I'll create my template and paste away to easysitecreator!). In doing a little more research I'm realizing I'm kidding myself... Any sugggestions in this regard would be GREAT! With that said, I DO have a specific question:
1) What is the difference between Java, Flash, etc? I ask because I would like to incorporate on my home page a rotating image of my most popular items (with a nice fade between rotation), but I'm totally CLUELESS about how to do this!! A sample website using this animation is www.thegigiblanki.com

Also, if you are able to help, would you mind continuing a conversation with me about this? Thanks a million!

Answer
Hi Liz, web stuff is really out of my area of expertise but I can give you a few suggestions. First, Flash is probably the most popular and widely used format for web based animations and motion graphics. Although Flash itself can be difficult to learn, there are some apps that act as a simplified overlay to Flash. In other words they will generate Flash files/websites without you having to learn all the in's and out's of Flash. The best one of these is a program called SwishMAX http://www.swishzone.com/

Also, you can create simple animated GIFS and insert them into your web development program. Ulead Gif Animator would be an example. This would be simplier but more limited than the Flash option.

You might want to talk with someone in the Web Design section too...

Hope this helps,
Andrew