ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 5.12 - MARCH 2001

Making It To The Web
(continued from page 2)

Steam utilizes Discreet's 3D Studio Max for an "Innerlevel" theatrical commercial for KCRW Radio's publicity campaign. Image courtesy of Steam/Discreet.

Another Option
Last but not least in our list of cool ways to deliver animation on the Internet is proof that Flash isn't the only game in town for delivering cool interactive content in a Web-friendly package. Pulse 3D (www.pulse3D.com) has developed their own proprietary technology and Web browser plug-in to deliver incredibly cool streaming 3D animation and interactive content! It's not as popular as the Flash format but Pulse's penetration increases every day. With some big names signed on to use the format, Pulse is generating quite a buzz. What's somewhat of a buzz-kill though, is the fact that you must buy a license to put Pulse content on your Website. The tools to create the content are free however and integrate directly with 3D Studio Max, whose newest release may prove to be the fuel Pulse needs to compete head to head with Flash for the title of 'Coolest Content Delivery Format;' although the inclusion of the Flash plug-in with every new computer sold today gives Macromedia the competitive edge.

Hopefully we've covered enough ground here to give you a broad view of the options available to take content you've created in one format and transform it into another that is more accessible via the Web than would be using traditional streaming video. Take a look at the tools you use most often and the applications and plug-ins here that integrate with those tools to find a conversion pathway that best suits your needs. If some of the options seem pricey, try and get a demo version, or insist on being able to view demos online of the output achievable with the product. This is always a good idea since it seems many of the claims presented by some of the companies outpace the impact of their online examples.

Good luck and happy animating!

Make sure to check our Technology news in Animation World's Headline News for the latest releases and announcements.

Mark Winstanley is a high-end Internet developer and consultant to Hollywood studios and entertainment creators, both online and offline. A Flash programmer, he is the editor and author of four books on Flash and co-founder of FlashCore.com, the Global New Media Creative and Technical Community. His email is: mark@flashcore.com

 
1 | 2 | 3