P3, M2
Animation formats
Advantages and disadvantages
GIF - A bit-mapped graphics file format that is widely used throughout the web, mainly for user avatars on forums or for animations in site banners. The GIF format is rarely seen on the more professional websites due to the low picture quality which is a result of the low file size of this particular format.
Pro's
- low file size, quick loading and good for web use
- easy to create on a various selection of software packages
- supported by most browsers
- no plugins needed
- lossless
Cons
- limited to 256 colours
- no interaction
- no sound
- hard to change once created
Dynamic HTML
Dynamic HTML or dHTML has been used in the creation of small animations in web sites for functions such as rollover buttons, browser-based games and drop down menus although due to compatibility issues with different browsers has become superseded by the use of CSS languages used by themselves.
Pros
- no need for plugins
- fast download speed with fairly good graphic effects
Cons
- platform problems due to the way different browsers read web languages
- the same features are available with Flash
- can be created with CSS languages
Shockwave
With fast streaming and a focus on 3D graphics, the Shockwave multimedia player (which was released before Flash) has the ability to compile several types of asset into a single multimedia project on a bigger scale than flash.
Pros
- built for 3D
- fast streaming
- allows for creation of versatile environments for a user to interact with
Cons
- requires the installation of additional software (plugins)
Realplayer
The multimedia player, Realplayer, has been around since 1995 and due to constant updates it has manged to stay one of the major players (no pun intended) in its field. This is due to its cross platform compatibility that can support both Quicktime and Windows media formats and is even used by the BBC on their Listen again section for radio shows.
Pros
- cross platform compatibility
- has a advert free version for business use
- simple and easy to use
- provides the user with the ability to save video files straight from the web
Cons
- includes adverts in the UI
- can be quite laggy
- there are many lighter alternatives
Quicktime
A player that can be used on both Mac and PC and supports animation, video, sound and images... much like windows media player and does rival WMP in that it has many of the same functions. Released by apple it is a default program that is installed on Mac as a default player.
Pros
- supports a wide variety of media
- allows for user to edit multimedia files
Cons
- much the same as Windows media player and if you have a PC there is not much use in installing it
When comparing the different file types, GIF and dHTML, the main differences are the file quality and compatibility. While dHTML does give the user higher quality animations the lack of compatibility is a major drawback where as GIF is usable in a much wider variety of browsers and due to smaller file size is much quicker to load. Because of this as well as the fact that GIF's are very easy to create in a short space of time, it has become the more popular file format.
With the different multimedia players it is quite difficult to say which is superior as these programs have been created with different users in mind. for example the Shockwave player, which has been around for some time is a fairly light program which allows for casual internet users to view different multimedia files online and while it does have other features for the accommodation of interactive multimedia it does require the installation of plugins in order to function with many online multimedia files. Then we have Realplayer and Quicktime, these multimedia players are slightly larger programs than shockwave but as a result of this do have many more features such as realplayer's ability to save files straight from web and Quicktime's editing feature. however when it comes to streaming video and image files from the internet, Realplayer has the advantage with compatibility whereas Quicktime isn't as frequently used in web however Quicktime does have the speed and reliability that Realplayer lacks.
- easy to create on a various selection of software packages
- supported by most browsers
- no plugins needed
- lossless
Cons
- limited to 256 colours
- no interaction
- no sound
- hard to change once created
Dynamic HTML
Dynamic HTML or dHTML has been used in the creation of small animations in web sites for functions such as rollover buttons, browser-based games and drop down menus although due to compatibility issues with different browsers has become superseded by the use of CSS languages used by themselves.
Pros
- no need for plugins
- fast download speed with fairly good graphic effects
Cons
- platform problems due to the way different browsers read web languages
- the same features are available with Flash
- can be created with CSS languages
Shockwave
With fast streaming and a focus on 3D graphics, the Shockwave multimedia player (which was released before Flash) has the ability to compile several types of asset into a single multimedia project on a bigger scale than flash.
Pros
- built for 3D
- fast streaming
- allows for creation of versatile environments for a user to interact with
Cons
- requires the installation of additional software (plugins)
Realplayer
The multimedia player, Realplayer, has been around since 1995 and due to constant updates it has manged to stay one of the major players (no pun intended) in its field. This is due to its cross platform compatibility that can support both Quicktime and Windows media formats and is even used by the BBC on their Listen again section for radio shows.
Pros
- cross platform compatibility
- has a advert free version for business use
- simple and easy to use
- provides the user with the ability to save video files straight from the web
Cons
- includes adverts in the UI
- can be quite laggy
- there are many lighter alternatives
Quicktime
A player that can be used on both Mac and PC and supports animation, video, sound and images... much like windows media player and does rival WMP in that it has many of the same functions. Released by apple it is a default program that is installed on Mac as a default player.
Pros
- supports a wide variety of media
- allows for user to edit multimedia files
Cons
- much the same as Windows media player and if you have a PC there is not much use in installing it
When comparing the different file types, GIF and dHTML, the main differences are the file quality and compatibility. While dHTML does give the user higher quality animations the lack of compatibility is a major drawback where as GIF is usable in a much wider variety of browsers and due to smaller file size is much quicker to load. Because of this as well as the fact that GIF's are very easy to create in a short space of time, it has become the more popular file format.
With the different multimedia players it is quite difficult to say which is superior as these programs have been created with different users in mind. for example the Shockwave player, which has been around for some time is a fairly light program which allows for casual internet users to view different multimedia files online and while it does have other features for the accommodation of interactive multimedia it does require the installation of plugins in order to function with many online multimedia files. Then we have Realplayer and Quicktime, these multimedia players are slightly larger programs than shockwave but as a result of this do have many more features such as realplayer's ability to save files straight from web and Quicktime's editing feature. however when it comes to streaming video and image files from the internet, Realplayer has the advantage with compatibility whereas Quicktime isn't as frequently used in web however Quicktime does have the speed and reliability that Realplayer lacks.
