For those of us who love using
Flash™
on our Web sites but have too short of an attention span to learn
all the intricacies of some existing programs that produce it, a
product from CoffeeCup Software called Firestarter helps
level the playing field.
From starters, it is clear that Firestarter (current version:
3.01) is far easier to use than many others — most effects
and other options are applied by selecting an element and then
pointing and clicking on the desired option.
While gurus of other programs will point out that Firestarter is
more limited than others, a planned update (version 3.5) is due
in July. Future updates promise to narrow the gap quite a bit.
Besides, how much action do most people need on a page and still
expect it to load on the same day?
That does not mean that the current $49 version is not capable of
producing some great effects. It offers more than 50 easy-to-use
presets for motion effects, action effects, and advanced effects.
Here is a glance of what each type provides:
Motion effects include sliding items in and out from
just about any direction, and having those items fade in, fade
out, grow, shrink, blink, or jiggle as they move. Users can also
let the software apply the effects randomly.
Action effects include Type Writer (where text enters
one letter at a time), jumble, jiggle, assemble, explode while
shrinking or growing or both, zoom in and fade out, enter the
screen as if target shooting, echo, and roll.
Advanced effects enable users to have items enter and
exit from locations either absolute or preset (such as upper
right off screen or on screen to other locations on or off
screen) and to change size while doing so.
The brewmeisters at CoffeeCup say that there will be 10-20 more
effects in the next update, along with other new additions.
Firestarter works on a timeline setup much like other such
programs. However, unlike many of those programs, the timeline is
easy to understand and alter. When users import or create an item
on the scene, it is automatically placed in the timeline and
named so that it is easy to track each item.
Once in the timeline area, simply dragging the ends of the
timeline for a particular element will lengthen or shorten the
time required for an effect. If the user wants an element to
remain on screen or hidden, that can be done by clicking on an
icon and inserting a spacer (the icon looks like a strip of film)
that can be stretched as long as needed.
Users can add text, images (many formats), sounds (there are 40
included), links, and shapes from within the program. Import a
.WAV file into Firestarter, and the program automatically
converts it to .MP3 so that the files will load more quickly.
When completed, a file can be saved in the native Firestarter
format or exported as a Macromedia Flash™ .SWF file.
Users can then select the built-in FTP program to upload their
projects to their server. Selecting the HTML Code Generator
copies the code and pastes it into the Web page. The program also
includes a built-in method for linking to another page, allowing
the user to build a Flash intro that jumps into another page on
their Web site.
One of the best features Firestarter offers also leads to the
most glaring deficiency of the program.
For those who have racked their brains trying to get a preloader
to work, Firestarter solves that problem with the click of a
button. Users choose what they want their preloader to say, type
it in, click the button and they instantly have a preloader. That
part is great.
What isn't great is that the program will not allow users to
import or open Flash files made in other program so that a
preloader can be added. That part is bad.
Here is a sample of what the program looks like and what it can
produce (refresh your browser and scroll back here to see the
program in action):
While the Flash guru in our office holds steadfastly to his Macromedia program, the
eldest of us find Firestarter to be much easier and convenient to
use. Besides, at $49, it leaves a lot more money to cover our
greens fees at the local golf course.
That does not mean that the current $49 version is not capable of
producing some great effects. It offers more than 50 easy-to-use
presets for motion effects, action effects, and advanced effects.
