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Understanding animation

Familiarity with the various forms of computer computer animation--time-based animation and frame-based animation--is important when designing a fast yet compelling web site. The difference between time-based animation and frame-based animation such as animated GIFs is similar to the distinction between vector graphics and bitmap graphics.

Frame-based animations must be built using a sequence of still frames played over a period of time to simulate movement. Imagine drawing many pictures of a bud opening up into a flower and playing them in rapid succession. Since each frame of the animation must be described by a different set of data, large file sizes are common with frame-based animation.

By contrast, time-based animation is built using a set of instructions, which tell the viewer's computer how to render the image's movements. Imagine drawing the petals of a rose with vector graphics, and then telling them to rotate and go in prespective to make the flower bloom, by giving a set of instructions that your computer could process and carry out. Since time-based animations are simply a set of instructions, file sizes are only slightly larger than the original still graphic. Animating a graphic with time-based effects can add less than 1K to its file size.

Creating time-based animations in Electrifier Pro is more efficient for the designer. Rather than building many detailed frames which are both time-consuming to create and difficult to edit, you can drag pre-programmed actions and effects onto actors. To edit, click on the effect or action and alter its characteristics. The effects and actions are rendered "on the fly" by the viewer's computer.

Time-based animations created with Electrifier Pro are also more efficient for the viewer. Rather than downloading a large sequence of graphics in order to play an animation, they only have to download a single graphic, and the instructions to animate it. Time-based animations also animate smoothly on all machines, instead of being too fast on some machines and too slow on others.

What is Electrifier Pro? | Understanding the Interface | Understanding Multimedia Authoring | Understanding Movies, Actors, and Sprite Tracks

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