Most animation is made by using files called animated GIF's (pronounced
"jif"). An animated gif is made of slightly different images
that are shown in succession, giving the impression of animation. It is
similar to the way cartoons are made.
These animations have the same dilemma as all web publishing - the more the
content, the better the look, but it takes longer to download. On one
hand, you want to make it look good, so that your viewers are
interested. On the other hand, adding too much will make the download
time long and bore your viewers.
The answer is usually in between - include some graphics but keep it under
control. Other techniques include reusing graphics. Once a graphic
is downloaded to the user, there is no longer a download time for that
graphic. At the top of this page, for example, the two graphics are the
same. Your computer downloaded it once, but uses it twice.
Here is a large animated picture that we developed;
it takes a while to
download. Click on the boat to see it.
Use the "Back" button on the top left to return to this page.
