Macromedia Inc has introduced the next version of its Flash design tool for generating high-definition vector-based animation ad graphics. The company also announced Flash Generator, a tool for developing front-ends in the company’s Flash format. And separately, the company said it is giving away the source code to its Shockwave Flash file format yesterday for integration into other products (see separate story). Flash 3, which is in public beta now and will ship by June, adds various features over the previous version. These include vector & bitmap transparency, so that users can create translucent graphics and overlay transparent vector objects on bitmaps; shape morphing that lets web designers morph a graphic across any number of frames without having to draw each incremental change in its own key frame; and bandwidth profiling so users get a graphical representation of how Flash movies are streaming. Flash Generator enables any graphic be driven from a data source and refreshed without redesigning the entire graphic or page and can be used on sites such as news and information sites, which need to display live information, including graphical sports scores, headlines and weather maps. Flash 3 for Windows 95, Windows NT and Power Macintosh will cost $300, and $100 as an upgrade from any previous version of Flash or FutureSplash. Flash is also available with FreeHand 8 and Insta.HTML in the Design in Motion Suite for $500. Flash Generator will follow in the summer with server side pricing. It is likely to cost a few thousand dollars, according to the company.
