Topic awaiting preservation: Picking your brains

Hi kids, don't mind me but I'm going to hit you with a multi leveled question.
I'm looking to get a little direction on my "path" and I come here and lurk because I see some of the best creative minds around here so this seems the best group to ask.

What are the practical pros and cons as far as dhtml & js as aposed to a Flash enviroment?
I don't do this for a living, I'm a chef I just really enjoy doing this at night when I get home, it feeds the right side of my brain, although I would like to make a few bucks on the side down the line. I have found my personal "comfort zone" has become to design the grfx in Photoshop then rework it in Flash to interact the way I want.
Yet I see some of the best talents doing these amazing things in dhtml & js.
Am I taking the wrong path? and if so why? Does it simply come down to a matter of personal prefferance?
I've just done my first "interface" style, for lack of better characterizing, and I first did it in html & js with the whole slicing thing, but it just wasn't "doing it" for me, I pieced apart the photoshop layers into multiple PNG's and rebuilt in flash and coded it out in Action Script and a touch of js for window control. Again, this seems alot more comfortable for me personally, but before I get too comfortable, is there a reason for me to think of switching directions?
Any thoughts on this are greatly apreciated.

And thanks very much for the help on getting the JS functions into the Flash.


~Peace~
Gary

The question between the use of flash vs DHTML is a tricky one. In my book it really boils down to what you are trying to do.

Both are really equally viable Flash is pretty much all over the place where DHMTL is as well but you does take a lot more work to get working on as many platforms as possible. I've noticed that Flash tends to be a designers weapon of choice where DHTML is more flexible for the coding types. DHTML applications for things such as menus and dynamic content are also much easier to code for then Flash applications.

It really depends on your comfort level. Much of flash Actionscripting is really based on JS so it's quite easy to transfer code from one to the other.

Flash tends to be much heavier in terms of download time and/or load speed.

Ultimately they are both just tools. Knowing how to use both and making decisions based on that will allow you the best flexibilty and would probably be your best way to go. That being said it sounds like Flash is your weapon of choice and for what you are doing that's great. If you get bored try out some simple DHTML tricks and give it a shot.



:[ Computers let you make more mistakes faster than any other invention in human history, with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila. ]:

I suppose it depends on the application. If you want a big animated splash page (why you'd want one is another matter) or some smaller animations then Flash might be your solution (although for very small things try animated gifs - just keep them small). Unless your whole page is in Flash I would recommend people not to have their navigation (or any other vital part of your site) in Flash and to use DHTML instead.

And in the end (as bitdamaged has said) it depends on what you are good at.

Emps


You're my wife now Dave

Yeah I'd agree. It all depends. You want alot of animation? I'd use Flash. You want a couple of things to move around? I'd use DHTML. Although I think that you can do anything with Flash and it is rapidly becomming more and more popular. I actually think that it's easier to learn Flash than anything else. A side from it being a frame by frame animation tool the only thing you need to learn in actionscript and they have all the actionscript you will ever need right in the program! You want the animation to stop on a certain frame, just insert the stop command from the menu. On the other side DHTML does require as much space and time as Flash does. I'd say that you have to be pretty good and graphic art to make a sweet looking Flash animation, cause lets face it, the text animations in flash are dull, out of date and boring. You have to at least make it look like you are trying are don't even bother. I personally only use DHTML for scrollers and not for animation or anything else. Why? Cause I bought Macromedia Flash 5 and I love it, and I love creating with it.

Not sure I answered your question, but hope it helps.

I always try to keep up on the basics of any format out there, so keeping that in mind and hearing your input, I feel more secure in staying "primarily" in my "comfort zone" of Flash and Photoshop.

Thnx for the feedback guys, apreciate it. Now to boil a pot of coffee so I can start practicing so I can get up the stones to join a round of Photoshop pong!!~LOL
This place is just too fun!!

~Peace~
Gary