| One thing that separates a good Web design from a mediocre one is consideration for the audience. If a Web site doesn't communicate its message or content well and doesn't address the audience's needs, it's simply not doing its job--no matter how cool the animation. To help you create good animated Web sites, follow these three simple rules. 1. Balance Looks With Usability
Don't use Web animation just for the hell of it. If your animation doesn't enhance the content of a page, don't include it. Aimless animation merely distracts viewers from what's important. And be warned: indefinite looping can quickly become annoying. 2. Let Bandwidth Be Your Guide
Despite the hype surrounding ISDN, T1 lines, and cable modems, most Internet surfers still sludge through the Web with 28.8-kbps or 56-kbps modems. Unless you're sure that your audience has faster connections, keep your animations as small as possible. If you can't squeeze them down to about 20K to 30K, consider redesigning or eliminating them. 3. Design for the Lowest Common Denominator
You may have a 21-inch monitor that supports 16 million colors, but what about the people who will be reading your page? To reach the widest possible audience, design your animations for 640-by-480-pixel resolution and Netscape's 216 browser-safe colors. |
