Animation on Web Pages

There are many web animation formats:

• Less is More: Animated GIF is low-end format of choice
• Some simple "animation" effects (e.g. image rollover) can be done using JavaScript
• Other formats include DHTML (dynamic HTML), Java
• Still others require a browser plugin: QuickTime, Shockwave, Flash, VRML, etc.
• Some formats are preloaded, others, e.g. RealVideo, are "streaming"

Animated GIF:

• behaves just like a regular GIF image file
• file contains multiple "cells" or frames, like a flipbook, plus instructions to browser for timing, looping, etc.
• Examples: CNN, "Going to the Science Library"

Next: HTML for animated GIF