simplyJesus.com could use some help

[simplyJ]

I am trying to make a Christian website simplyJesus.com. If you have looked at any of the ones on the web you have noticed most are not real impressive. I am a programmer, but have no experience in graphics or flash. Could anyone help me make a flash animation for the home page? A good example of what I would love to have is at

http://www.gamespy.com.

This is basically a circle that has animations rotating inside of it.

I hate asking everyone for help, but I don't know how to do it myself. In my opinion we can witness to people in better ways than the dry sites out there right now.

If you have any interest let me know.

Serving Him,
Troy Fisher

 

[coldfused]

have a talk with tulsa jeff..he just did one for his church..see if ya like that one and go from there..look at the other thread labeled "music play list" right under this one..he has a link to his churches site in there..have a look..


he was here a while ago maybe he's still around..if not e-mail him..

carlsatterwhite@endangeredgraphics.com

 

[TulsaJeff]

Hi Troy,

Have a look at

http://www.lifetab.net

This is a site I built for my church a few months back. I do agree that churches should do their best to have exciting websites. Most are pretty boring I admit. Let me know very specifically what you want to do and I or someone here can probably help walk you through it.

tulsajeff@home.com
Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[TulsaJeff]

BTW...I cannot pull up gamesites at work such as

http://www.gamespy.com...

they have filters on the server that block out certain content that is not condusive to "all work and no play" industry standards. I will view it tonight when I get home.
Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[simplyJ]

Thank you for the response. I love your intro on the site. It just gives the site a modern look. I understand why your company blocks all outside sites that could cause distractions. I would never work.

When you get a chance I would love youto take a look at gamespy.com. I just happened across the site, and thought it was great. There flash presentation is in a two and a half inch circle, and plays a repeating sequence. It almost looks like a commercial. I thought it was a good idea. So, on simplyJesus.com I figured we could have the same kind of thing, or even inside a triangle, if it would look better.

I don't mean to keep typing I just get carried away when I think of how awesome it would be to have a modern site. Thank you again for your response. I am looking forward to hearing back from you.

troy

 

[TulsaJeff]

you say it is inside a circle...sounds like they might have used a mask...which is a type of layer. The best way to explain masking is to imagine two pieces of paper... the top one being the mask has a hole cut out of it 2 inches in diameter. as you move the mask over the bottom sheet you can see what is on the bottom sheet only thru that little circle.

In the same way...whatever is on the mask layer whether it is a circle or a triangle or even text is going to allow you to see what is on the layer directly below it, but only thru those objects(cutouts).

Pretty cool, eh???!! Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[simplyJ]

From what you have described that is exactly what they have on their site. My only problem is that I have tried flash once before and I couldn't even get the bee to fly on the line. (I hope you tried that tutorial or that might not make sense) I also don't have any art ability so I guess the main thing I really need help with is design concepts. I can always just create somethign in photoshop if I can't make it work in Flash.

I do agree with you. The concept of the cirlce is cool.

 

[TulsaJeff]

Hi Troy,

yes...the little bee tutorial is not really that hard but it is a little touchy if the bee does not snap to the line well enough. This stuff just takes practice as does anything i guess.


I would say they used a mask for that circle...very simple.

open a new movie and insert about 3 layers.

Name layer 1 "Actions"
Name layer 2 "Mask"
Name layer 3 "Content"

right click on layer 2 ("Mask&quot and select mask

select the circle tool and draw a circle about 300px in diameter. colors do not matter because it will not be seen. The circle is a big hole in the mask layer which will allow you to see what is in the content layer below.

just as an example of what this will do...select the content layer and just put text or colored balls or whatever you like all over it. when you are satisfied with it ... hit control+enter to view. If you done it correctly you should only see a round cutout of the objects on the content layer.

let me know how it comes out.

I am emailing you an example of this. Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[TulsaJeff]

well...I thought I had your email address...

Post your email or send me an email at tulsajeff@home.com so I can reply to it. Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[simplyJ]

I took a look at your example, and what I don't understand is when I move the circle anywhere, or even just click on it, the text behind won't show up when I hit play.

The other big thing I am stuck on is trying to figure out what to make the slideshow about. I am not a graphics person so this idea part is killing me.

 

[TulsaJeff]

why dont you send me what you have so far and I will diagnose what the problem is and try to explain how to do what you want to do..... would not take more than a few minutes I don't imagine.

As far as the design...that is gonna have to be your baby...you will have to get the creative juices flowing...I am not really a designer either...what helps me is exactly what you did yesterday and that is to go looking at other sites to see what they did and try to think of ways to do similar things on your site and still keep it original. Getting a concept in mind is the hardest part for me but it is hard to get anywhere otherwise.

tulsajeff@home.com Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[simplyJ]

I haven't meant to take this long, but I have been coding the rest of the fetures on the site. I wouldn't even really have anything to send you. I will keep working on some design ideas. I appeciate you saying you would take a look at my work right now, but I don't have enough for you to waste your time with. If you wouldn't mind, can I work on some things and then get it to you?

Thanks again

 

[TulsaJeff]

Take your time.... keep us posted on how things are going;-)

Jeff Ya' Gotta Love It!