My first ever Flash Site

[MarkEmerson]

I'm 18 and just starting out in Web Design.  I am studying 2 A-Levels in ICT at a College in England.  This is my first site i have ever produced using Flash.

I know it is not great but I was learning how to use flash at the time and was having to teach myself at the same time as doing this assignment.  I know the text version is lame but it had to be to meet certain requirements but i would appreciate any feedback on the Flash version of my site.

I have learnt many new techniques since deigning this site and there are a few things i am not happy with but for a satrt i thought it was ok, anyway take a look and try not to be to heartless I am new  

http://members.tripod.co.uk/CCSU

Thanks Mark

[MarkEmerson]

Just read it through again, sorry about the grammar! Just thought I would add that I only have a copy of Flash 4  so dont suggest things that are not possible please

P.S just looked at the Dream-Flash site, looks quality!

[the pale e]

I think that's a good first crack.
Consider cleaning it (looks sloppy in parts)....
Also, consider your target market (ie students/potential students) and after you considered your target, ask yourself what they'd like to see (most people are visual communicators)....then..
Apply some imagery!  Pretty people is my guess for what would work best.

Hearing you talk about only owning Flash 4 depresses me.  Get the trial....then pester Macromedia with emails until they send you a free copy....

That's what I think the right strategy would be.....

Have fun!

thx,
the pale e

[LeoKaupe]

Hi Mark,

For your first site thats some pretty good work. I recommend finding your target audience first as pale e mentioned. Then you need to come up with an idea of how you want the navigation of your site to be structured. I started building websites around your age and I was able to develop my talents by practicing and learning the odds and ends of Flash nearly every week.
Keep up the good work.  

PS. Thanks for your comments about my site at dream-flash.com, I appreciate it. To tell you the truth that was just a beta version I threw together...I still have to finish it LOL. Ive just been busy with work.

[MarkEmerson]

Ha ha i'll try that idea for getting Flash 5 pale e, I dont fancy my chances but what the he** its worth a go.  

I'm hoping to go into web design when i finish college in June so i could get a copy off them I'm hoping.

Thanks for your feedback guys It all helps with my evaluation for my assignment,  The site was only for the assignment so I will not get round to changing it I want to start on something else once I have finished the reams of needless paper work the college are making us submit with the site.

[wear]

not very good

[MarkEmerson]

Thanks for the feedback wear, thats really helpfull, i will try to work on the points you have mentioned  

[psychlonex]

Mark,
I agree with alot of what pale e and flash-db have to say. One thing that would clean up the look a bit would be to convert the logo into vectors. It's probably a gif, try using the trace bitmap jammy. play around with the settings until you get it to look like you want. This should decrease your file size a bit, and allow the logo to scale without getting all pixelated. Overall tho, you've done some pretty advanced stuff like transitioning between sections and the spinning menu. Once you get flash5, you'll never look back, and you'll sometimes wonder how you even got anything done without it.

As far as getting freebies from macromedia, I'm sure they have an educational discount. If they don't, chances are the retailers will. Check out MacWharehouse, or PCWharehouse. Plus, if you buy flash 5 in the next few months, chances are that you'll be just inside that window where you'll be able to upgrade to 6 for free, or a nice discount.

Good luck in the future, and keep on flashin'

Psx

[MarkEmerson]

thnx psx, I'll try that with the Logo I created it in Image Composer, which I now regret but because it is for an assignment, which I have to show a range of software for, I had to use what the college had.  Thanks for the input though psx and I will keep that in mind for future projects.

[André Faca]

In my opinion , it's great for your first time =)

Make some changes , try not to repeat the same moves over and over . =)

Best Regards ,
AdJk

www.adjkdesign.com

[MarkEmerson]

thanks for your input adjk, ill bear that in mind

mark