This one is for the webmasters out there. Flash animations are one of the more artistic and popular things on the web these days, and there is no doubt that Flash work adds a level of artistry and professionalism to any website if used properly. Macromedia Flash is retails for $499, so its not cheap. Plus, as most anything of this nature, there is a learning curve associated with it. There is a cheaper alternative, however, which also has a number of built-in effects pre-programmed into it. That alternative is known as SwishMax. The program used to be known simply as Swish, but the newer version of the software is called SwishMax. The program supports 230 built-in effects, an internal scripting language and a host of other professional level features. The exported products are full flash movies, only without using FlashMX itself.

There is still a learning curve. You must master the basics of creating a Flash movie, just as you would if you were using FlashMX itself. But, once you get the basics, you can then begin to expand your knowhow through exploration. The cool thing is that the program is available as a free trial, then its only $99 to buy.

Go to www.swishzone.com for more information.