Flash banner - Update 2

So, everything is good to go on the client side of things. Although I have been researching a lot on different types of web banner ads, because I'm slightly lost. There seems to be two major categories of banner ads, regular ads and rich media ads. For this assignment we have to create a rich media ad, but there are important elements to bear in mind.

The first element is the file size. I have looked up the regulations for web banner ads, they say that their file size can be no more than 40KB. This left me puzzled as there is no way I am going to be able to create a rich media banner of which includes animation and high quality and keep it below 40KB. By looking at other rich media ads, I can see that they haven't either, but then other ads are under this size. It's something I'm going to have to look into some more.

The next element is the size of the banner itself. I thought I would go for a banner that is a standard box banner type at the size of 300x250px. As a  requirement of the project is that the banner must expand, I thought an expanding size of 600x350px would be a good choice, because if it was any bigger it may take up too much of the screen for those using smaller screens.

I will be posting more updates on my findings and such very soon, in comparison to my other projects at college this one is very short.

Flash Web Banner

My next assignment at college is to find an external client, and create an interactive Flash banner for them. In class we have been taught how to combine Flash with HTML and Javascript so that we can make a drop down sort of banner within a HTML page.

My client is my dads business, Grants Precast. I thought that this would be a good idea as their new site will be being launched around the same time that the banner will be ready, so it can directly link to the site.

I will have to look in to web advertisement banners much more.

I did it.

Again, I must apologise for the time spacing between my posts, between animating and doing the paperwork for the project, it has rarely crossed my mind to update the old blog.

The animation is complete, and after having slight differences from the original animatic, I am quite happy with the result.

You can see the finished thing right here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ4xaaeXhhM&feature=g-upl&context=G20249a7AUAAAAAAAAAA

As I mentioned earlier, there are some slight differences between the finished project and the original animatic plan. I have changed these for a reason. I felt the final project with have more of an impact on the issue and problems it is trying to convey.

The next few things that I must do to wrap up this animation project is to show this to people, and gain feedback and write up an evaluation.

I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this project for the simple fact that it was so different to my other college projects. Learning about 2D animation techniques has also meant that I have further knowledge in Flash; there is just so much you can do with it!

All in all, if you fancy a go at learning about 2D animation I really wouldn’t hesitate and go for it.

Animation - It's getting there.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, I have been absorbed in the animation. All of the graphics and audio are good to go, and I have even started lip syncing with the characters.

All other movement including the passing of cars, and an oil rig has been done. So really the main chunks of the animation are almost done. For now I have the basic scenes set up at the right time. The next thing to really get done (although frustratingly time consuming) is the lip syncing. I have also made each of the characters mouths, including all of the basic shapes for speech.

The reason I have made each character their own mouth is because I wanted each one to be completely unique… and I feel that just using the same mouth over and over would detract from that, and lessen the impact of the graphical content.

Anyways, back to work I go!