If you are looking to add a little bit more pizzazz for your site, but not too much, then try a flash banner. These can be used in place of the normal SiteSpinner shape filled with a background color or image. The banners I have collected are free and can be placed on your page using the Foreign Object/Media tool and selecting the Flash format type. You may need to add a few parameters to the object, but this depends on the effect you are trying to achieve.
Below is a tool to allow you to sample the banners that are available. You can optionally add text to overlay the banner so see how the effect would look.
Once you have found a banner you like, download it using the download button. Save the SWF file and import it onto your work page using the Foreign Object (or Embed Media) tool. Each banner has been designed with default dimensions, but you can make the banner fit any desired size by specifying a Parameter Name of scale and using a Value of exactfit. This flash parameter does not maintain the X-Y aspect ratio, so some banner may appear out-of-proportion when previewed/published. If you place other SiteSpinner objects on top of the banner, you will also need to specify a Parameter Name of wmode and use a Value of transparent (see the figure below).
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Karyn,
Try the Links button on the right panel and check out the HTML Links section. I have a few links there for animated GIFs.
Brian,
I am not familiar with MS Publisher, but if it is anything like Web 2, then you will need to embed code on your page to activate the visitor’s flash player. You will find an example of this code at:
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_4150
More examples and explanations of the various parameters can also be found on the Adobe site.
Hi Geezer. I was wondering if there are any good sites to get good animated clipart that is compatable with sitespinner
I’m using MS Publisher and cannot import the banners, is there a trick to doing it with Publisher or should I graduate to something better like Expression Web 2?
Karyn,
Was it a particular banner that you had problem with or all banners?
The transparent & the optional text is not working for me. Just the opaq flash. Cool! But was hoping for the text thing.
Neat stuff! The air bubbles one isn’t working for me…but after all of the tips you have posed in the SS forums I finally bookmarked your site!
Thanks for the words of wisdom!
Scott
Very cool. You never cease to amaze me.