Page 234 - DCAP408_WEB_PROGRAMMING

Windows Programming

Notes Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
11. To draw a straight line, just click on the ......................... control and then use your mouse to
draw the line on the form.

12. The default shape is a rectangle, with the shape property set at .........................

14.8 Animated Graphics

An animated GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) file is defined as a graphic image on a Web
page that moves – for instance, a twirling icon or a banner with a hand that waves or letters that
magically get bigger. Particularly, an animated GIF is a file in the Graphics Interchange Format
mentioned as GIF89a that includes inside the single file a set of images that are exhibited in a
particular order. An animated GIF can loop continuously (and it occurs as though your document
never completes arriving) or it can exhibit one or a few sequences and then discontinue the
animation. Animated GIFs are often utilized in Web ad banners.
One of the most exciting, fast-growing parts of the graphics world is animated graphics. With
the growth of the Internet, computer-animated feature films and other new media, the animated
graphics field has grown by leaps and bounds. Animated graphics are created with animation
software. Much of the animated graphics on the Internet are created with Adobe Flash. Computer
"3-D" animated feature films are created using high-end animation programs such as Autodesk
Maya.

Adobe Flash

Adobe Flash has become the near-standard program for Web animation and is used as well for
television and movie animation. The current version (as of 2009) of the program is called Adobe
Flash CS4 Professional. It is useful for much more than animation, including many types of
interactive Internet programming to create rich Internet experiences. It is possible to download
Flash on a trial basis for free for a limited time. The program includes lessons and tutorials to
help in learning.

Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Maya is a 3-D animation program allowing users to execute 3-D modeling, visual
effects, animation and rendering. It is the industry standard for 3-D animators working in
television, design, computer games and feature films. Like Flash, Maya is available in a trial
version as a free download. There are several third-party plug-in applications available to
enhance its productivity. It should also be noted that there are several other notable 3-D animation
software products on the market, such as Kinetix 3D Studio Max.

Adobe After Effects

Another Adobe program in heavy use for animated graphics is Adobe After Effects. It is used to
create special visual effects and animated graphics. Adobe After Effects is often used with other
Adobe programs, such as Photoshop and Flash, as a postproduction tool to add special animation
effects. Like other Adobe programs, it is available as a download on a free trial basis for a
limited trial period.

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