This is the front of the post card design I created for Ivy’s new juice promotion, which starts in july. I created it using illustrator and made the typical yellow ivy stripes flow into juice droplets. mark hamilton design, graphic design east sydney.
1. Once your flash web site is finished and you have a domain name and hosting then your ready to upload your site.
2. Keep all your files saved into a root folder and name your root folder something like “flashwebsite”
3. So make sure your have saved your .fla file into the root folder, along side the .swf file
4. Next go to file – publish settings- formats, then click both boxs for
“flash (.swf)”
and “HTML (.html)“.
5. Open root folder and check that you have these 4 files -
.fla
.swf
.html
AC_RunActiveContent.js
6. Now open a text editor program of your choice, such as “TEXT MATE”
7. Open your .html file in TEXT MATE
8. Change your title tag to something that represents your web page – (EG. COMPANY NAME :: WHAT YOUR COMPANY DOES)
9. Now save your .html file as “index.html” into your root folder
10. Next log into your hosting account and then open “FILE MANAGER” and go into “WWW”
11. Next click on “UPLOAD FILES” and select these files to upload:
.fla
.swf
index.html
AC_RunActiveContent.js
12. Now your flash web site should be uploaded and ready to view online
13. Once you have uploaded all the necessary files needed to view your web site you should test in different browsers online and maybe even different computers to ensure your web site and flash files are downloading properly and quickly. If your flash files are too big then they will take a long time to upload and may cause frustration to those viewing them.
14. If you find you flash files are too big and are taking a long time to download online then do not despair as there is programs developed to help reduce the flash file size without losing pixel quality. Some of these programs are able to reduce the flash file size to less than a third of the size without losing the original quality. This helps to speed up the download time of your flash files online, making everybody happy.
Check out these links to two very good flash optimizers:
mac user: Click Here
pc user:
15. If you decide to use a flash optimizer and I highly recommend doing so, then you will have to go back to step 4. Next click “publish”, after the file has been publish check your root folder for your web site and you will now find 4 files for your flash file:
.fla
.swf
index.html
AC_RunActiveContent.js
_opt.swf(instead of a .swf file you will also have _opt.swf file, use this instead of the .swf file and upload it into your web site host the same way u would an .swf file, its that easy).
one way link
KoKo Furniture Design: I created a logo and stationary set for this custom-made furniture design company based near Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. The Head Designer, Renate De Koker, uses innovative and modern techniques to create each piece of design. Each piece is individual and made from a mixture of recycled materials, driftwood and quality timber to give each design its own personality. The look I created for the logo is modern and sophisticated, using the two K’s from her name I manipulating them into two chairs. This signature look will help create a brand identity that will get noticed and help her too further promote her designs.
one way link
1. Once you have finished your flash animation export the file to test it and observe that everything works fine, then save the file into the root folder of your web site.
2. Next go to file – publish settings- formats, then click both boxs for
“flash (.swf)”
and “HTML (.html)”.
3. Next click “publish”, after the file has been publish check your root folder for your web site and you will find 3 files for your flash file:
.fla
.swf
.html
4. After all these files have been located in your root folder for your web site, then you are now ready to insert the files into dreamweaver. Open reamweaver ( I will assuming you have already created a new html file, managed your root folder and added an appropriate div tag to insert the flash file into to) if you have not already created a new html file for your web site then click here for my tutorial on how to create your first html file for your first web site page.
5. with your html file open in dreamweaver, place the cursor inside the div tag you have created to fit the flash file (remember the div tag must me big enough to fit the flash file inside, to figure this out go back to flash and click anywhere on or outside of the stage and in the properties inspector tab at the bottom of the flash interface you will observe the flash stage size in pixels.
6. Now back in dreamweaver with your cursor correctly placed inside the div tag where you wish to place the flash file, go to the top of the dreamweaver interface and click on insert – flash.
7. Next click on the .swf file you wish to insert, then click choose.
8. Your flash file should be perfectly placed inside the div tag and is ready for viewing online.
9. Now go to the top of the dreamweaver interface again and this time click on the little “world wide web” icon, then click on either
“preview in safari”
or “preview in firefox”
or “preview in internet explorer”
(Its best to test in numerous browsers as different browsers may sometimes display HTML differently)
press “yes” to save the file.
10. Now you flash file will show up on your web site.
11. Now if you have your domain name and have registered your site with a hosting service, then you are able to upload all the files into the hosting sites server so that your web site is online and ready to be seen world wide. Firstly to do this you must login into your web hosts server, once inside the cpanel you will have many options to choose from, the area you want to go to in order to upload your files is the “file manager“.
12. Once inside the file manager click on “www” and wait for data to load.
13. Then click on “upload” and wait for a new page to load. Once this new page is loaded click on “choose file” and then select from the root folder for you web site which files you would like to upload so that those online will be able to see your site online. For the flash side of things you will need to upload three separate files, the .swf file, the .html file and the AC_RunActiveScript.js (this is a universal script which is used for displaying all flash files online and is generated when you publish your flash file into the root folder of your site). You will need all of these for the flash file to work.
14. Once you have uploaded all the necessary files needed to view your web site you should test in different browsers online and maybe even different computers to ensure your web site and flash files are downloading properly and quickly. If your flash files are too big then they will take a long time to upload and may cause frustration to those viewing them.
15. If you find you flash files are too big and are taking a long time to download online then do not despair as there is programs developed to help reduce the flash file size without losing pixel quality. Some of these programs are able to reduce the flash file size to less than a third of the size without losing the original quality. This helps to speed up the download time of your flash files online, making everybody happy.
Check out these links to two very good flash optimizers:
mac user: Click Here
pc user:
16. If you decide to use a flash optimizer and I highly recommend doing so, then you will have to go back to step 3. Next click “publish”, after the file has been publish check your root folder for your web site and you will now find 4 files for your flash file:
.fla
.swf
.html
_opt.swf (instead of a .swf file you will also have _opt.swf file, use this instead of the .swf file and upload it into dreamweaver and your web site host the same way u would an .swf file, its that easy).
one way link
99 Designs is a web site dedicated to linking clients to designers through an online competition which basically operates in a 4 step process.
Step 1: Create your design brief
Clients are asked to create a design brief for any project ranging from print design to web sites and everything in between. The client is aksed a few simple questions to help flesh out the brief and allow for competing designers to understand what is asked of them.
Step 2: Set your budget
Clients are then asked to set an asking price for the winning design, this could be any where from US$100 – US$600 depending on the type of project.
Step 3: Work with the designers
Once the client has posted the design brief online, designer form all around the world are invited to enter and compete for the best design. The client rates the design concepts and provides helpful feedback to ensure the designer delivers exactly what is asked of them.
Step 4: Choose your favorite design
After the design brief has been posted for more than 7 days, the competition for best concept is closed and the client pays the designer the agreed amount. The designer then must send the completed project to the client along with copyright to the original art work.
There are thousands of different projects to compete for and loads of prize money, plus this site is a great way to get your name out there as a designer. Once you register on the site you are able to create a profile page, upload portfolio work, store designs that have been created in competitions for clients to observe and create a contact page.
Basically this site is a great way to promote yourself as a designer and an even better place for clients to get in touch with talented designers. Check it out and give it a go, what have you got to lose.
one way link
Artists in Cornwall is a site dedicated to promoting UK artists and illustrators. With an A – Z of artists and a list of galleries in which to see their work. The site is a great place for observing new talent and finding inspiring pieces to observe and admire. I could spend hours on this site alone and not get bored. This site is a must for any UK based artist.
This huge database has a collection of artists specializing in traditional, abstract and experimental art in a variety of media including oils, watercolours, acrylics, photography, sculpture, textiles, jewellery and mixed media.
There is also a guide to helpful web sites with information on painting techniques, artist’s tips, instruction, lessons and tutorials. Great for any inspiring artist.
Artists In Cornwall
Fine art and illustration by contemporary UK artists and illustrators, plus artists resources.
one way link
One great book I have read recently is Ellen Lupton’s new book, which is co-authored by Jennifer Cole Phillips, “Graphic Design: The New Basics”. There are a lot of great design books out there that debate the fundamentals of design, but many are confusing, complex, disorganized, and dated.
Ellen Lupton is a writer, curator, and graphic designer who leads the MFA Design program at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, where she is also the “Director of Design Thinking”. Her book Thinking with Type is the most practical publication out today on typography and is my greatest resource for typography- based research. She also has a blog full of helpful information about design.
Overall I highly recommend this book as an addition to your personal design library.
one way link
I recently purchased Area form Borders, which is a new graphic design book published by Phaidon. This huge yellow and grey book is a global up-to-the-minute overview of contemporary printed graphic design . There are hundreds of pages of amazing design and each page is designed to be torn out and hung on your studio wall to provide you with endless inspiration .
This book is a must have for any designer and I highly recommend it.
100 graphic designers, 010 curators and 010 design classics.
one way link
My most latest project was to create a new website for the cleaning company “Airlie Sunshine Cleaning”. Using flash I created a one-page site that rolls out with a simple animation of the logo and interactive buttons. The interface is clean and inviting.
Take a look, airliesunshinecleaning.com
one way link
For a very different type of design book I recommend reading How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer
one way link
