Creating flash web banner, anything I need to know?

[MikeTheVike]

Been working with flash, is there anything special I need to know when making a flash web banner besides making the file size as small as possible?

Even though they are small, do they typically have a preloader?

Can I use Actionscript 3, or is it betetr to stick with AS2?

[urstwile]

Is this for an ad banner?

[Patrick Shannon]

Hmm...I'd say learn ActionScript 3 because that's what's going to be used going forward, but if you can get the job out of the way quicker with Actionscript 2, go for it.

[MikeTheVike]

Is this for an ad banner?

yea...

patrick, I planned on using AS3, but didn't know if AS2 was more supported in ads...

[DesignVHL]

all depends on what the needs of the client are. I don't use THAT much AS when doing web banners. It is usually fairly simple graphics - maybe a little animation, text, etc. Most of the AS is done on the click through button - you would just create a button symbol the exact size of the ad, and place it over all your content on the stage. Then attache a getURL script to it! Easy as pie! :) You should never use a preloader for an ad like that - its not necessary. Usually the size of the swf file is based on how large the images you import are. And if your doing it all in flash, and have no photos/jpegs, then the file size should be even smaller. What really drives the size up is when you are using alphas and alpha transitions with images. If you are doing something a bit more advanced, I don't see why you couldn't use AS3 though, so long as your ok with not saving down for lower versions of the flash player. Find out if your client would like it compatible with earlier versions of flash and go from there! :)

[urstwile]

Just like submitting ads to publications, you need to find out from the site that's running the ad what their requirements are. Some have loop limits, Flash player requirements, scripting/no scripting requirements, etc.