... Your Choice... Swish or Flash?

[SilverSoldierTT 0]

Ok, I have run into a little "fork in the road" so to speak. I was conversing with a friend of myne, and we began discussing the pro's and con's of two popular graphics/animation programs... SwishMAX and MS Flash... I personally have both, SwishMAX and Flash MX 2004... Personally, I feel SwishMAX is better, becuase it gives you a broader range of effects, etc to do with your animation... However, at the same time, while more difficult to get used to (especially coming from Swish), Flash has its ups and downs as well, allowing a somewhat more professional, smoother look, while allowing the user to customize almost every image and detail...So, to decide which I should use for my next site (assuming I am going to incorporate some animation into it), I am turning to you guys... For those of you who have used them, which do you prefer and why? Any and all input is greatly appreciated...

Notice from BuffaloHELP:

Edited to remove 8 blank lines.

Edited May 23, 2005 by BuffaloHELP (see edit history)

[Inspiron 0]

To me... SWISH is flash... or rather the ditto to Macromedia's Flash...I don't find the big deal between the two... They are just the same...If I were to choose, I'll prefer Micromedia Flash.. it's original flash creator.. So credits should go to them...That's why I will support them...

[serverph 0]

isn't there any substantial filesize difference on generated SWFs between swishmax and flashmx (with the same effects and all)? would anyone know the average difference/percentage? i would think that since swishmax comes bundled with ready-made effects, which users would find lazy to configure anyway (sorta like just plug-and-play, no dirty work to do ), it would have bigger SWF outputs. flash, on the other hand, requires more advanced planning but end-results can be freely optimized, hence lower filesize. and btw, does swishmax support actionscripts? pretty useful for most flash animators, i would think. bottomline, it boils down which one you're most comfortable with. i use swish for small "rush" flash animation projects - like simple buttons, simple menus, etcetera which requires simple effects. when time is of no issue, i'd like to dig in and get dirty with flash.

[SilverSoldierTT 0]

haha... yea, I appreciate the comments from you two... Serverph, I think you kinda hit the nail on the head... I mean, lets face it, who doesnt wanna just get down and dirty with Flash?!?! ... Anywho, yea, I think I will probably end up doing what you said, and that was use Swish for the smaller rushed projects, and Flash for a little more in depth... Anyways, thanks for the input, I will be sure to put it to as good of use as I can...

[Tyssen 0]

And speaking of 'in depth', not sure on Swish, but I know that Flash does have the ability to interact with databases so if you really want to take it to the next level, Flash is probably the one to do it.

[biscuitrat 0]

I personally like Flash but I'm inept at making animations. I made a camel once in 7th grade or so and that was the end of it. Also because I'm an intense perfectionist and I always end up doing something to the file before I save it...AKA deleting frames.

[guangdian 0]

swishmax is easy to use but mm flash not so good to use i think

[SilverSoldierTT 0]

yea, I hear ya... Swish is definitely easier to pick up upon... however, I would have to agree... once you learn it, Flash does sure open a few more doors for ya... and lol... yea, it sucks being a professionalist...

[Goosestaf 0]

graphics/animation programs... SwishMAX and MS Flash... I personally have both,

 

oh dear . . . not MS lol

i would have to say Flash is better, but "Swish" is easier to just pick up and use and learn. (i also hate the name swish, its jsut soudns liek a pathetic rip off, of flash. . . i mean FLASH sounds kool . . . but swish. . . thats just kinda lame lol)

 

its similar to Paintshop pro and photoshop. PSP is easier to jsut pick up and start using if ur a newbie, but u can do so much more in PS

[mahesh2k 0]

Flash MX is god of all.sish is easy but you cant create as good. as falsh with swish.you can check the possibiltiy of flash at
http://bmace.com/
i like that site so much.you can even try some of the samples on your site.

[SilverSoldierTT 0]

lol... yea, thanks... not MS... macromedia i believe? ha... too many M's... anywho, ill check out that site here shortly... thanks...

[shigajet 0]

I have both SwishMAX and Flash on my machine, although I can't really choose which one is better. Both have their pluses and minuses.SwishMAX is easy to learn with lots of preset effects, allowing the user to create Flash animations quickly. The downside is that there are some effects that Swish cannot do but Flash can.Flash can do a lot more and can do a lot of professional effects (as demonstrated on many a commercial Flash-based website), but the learning curve is admittedly a bit steep. If the user has time fool around and become comfortable using some of the effects, then Flash is great.

[NeXDesigns 0]

I would use flash for the more detailed things and the ones that need more perfection (full sites, etc) but i would use swish for the smaller stuff like Serverph said, because sometimes i just dont have the time to get into detail with flash, and it does take time because im not that experienced with it yet.