I’m working on a flash layout, and I’ve run into a problem: I don’t know how to fill some empty space while keeping the feel and style I’ve been using:
http://www.geocities.com/jfplectrum/layout3.swf
(some buttons are inactive)
I’d appreciate any suggestions you guys can make on what to do with the empty space above and below the centered navigation.
I’m not getting paid for this, so I’m not asking you to do my job for me, just some advice for a volunteer project 
john
it works for me if i copy and paste the link.
why do you feel you have to fill up all the space on screen? remember different screens are different resolutions. just do your best to make a design that makes a nice layout in as man screen modes as possible.
one thing i would do though is up the frame rate at the moment it feels around the default 12fps mark, make that 30 or 40 fps for smooth motion, and mke it a little clearer as to what you’ve got to click. everything is perhaps a litle too understated, or rather it’s not clear what’s a button and what isn’t. moving the mouse around the screen trying to find the hotspots isn’t a good way to navigate. you need to know before your mouse gets that that it’s a button.
apart from that it’s certainly a very cool design. keep at it.
mdme_sadie, those are great suggestions. I think I will keep the empty space. I’ve changed the fps to 30, and it’s looking much smoother. I didn’t even realize the hotspots were hard to find, I guess when you work on something and you know where everything is you assume that everyone else does as well
again, thanks for the input. I added “arrows” near the buttons, I’m not sure if that makes things clearer. I might end up doing something more obvious, although I’d like to keep things understated, as you put it.
john
hmmm… it does work if you cut and paste. Wierd. Anyway, I like it. I think the spareness of the opening layout adds a cool atmosphere, and the simplicity of the nav scheme is rather nice.
Keep us posted!
mesa likes it ! 
hey how do you work with flash? for a few years now i have made my sites with photoshop and the slice tool then do the rest in dreamweaver. I was told most ppl get there basic layout in macromedia free hand and then go from there in flash ? any tips.
Maxx, magic6435 thank you for the compliments. I don’t think I’ll do much more with the layout, except script it to plug into an sql/php back end.
magic6435, everything was done without leaving flash mx, with the obvious exceptions of the 3d object (some quick 3ds max work), and the glows around the buttons (photoshop). I came up with the layout design on paper, then developed further it in flash mx. The only tip I can provide, and it’s a kind of a lame one, is practice and look at other people’s work. This layout is the 4th I’ve done in all my short life as a webdesigner, and an improvement on the other ones, which weren’t very nice to look at. :rolleyes:
here are a couple of sites that link to great flash work to draw inspiration from, if you haven’t seen these already…
http://www.flashinthecan.com
http://www.favouritewebsiteawards.com
hope that helps
john
Very nice. I would suggest to use a 100% tween for the end of the opening menu. Give it a more fluid feel. Keep it up.
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.