AVI files

Can you use them?

[WildAngel]

Recently I have come across some AVI files that would look really cool as a background for one of my logos, but I don’t know a lot about AVI files so im not sure if its such a bright idea to use them. Will they take too long to download? I have tried looking for more info on the web but found nothing to really answer my question. Any help would be appreciated!

WildAngel

[tedster]

I believe AVI is a windows only format -- I'd look into converting to animated gif or Flash.

The file size would depend on the actual content, of course, but you might pull it off quite well and then have something widely supported.

[WildAngel]

Hi Tedster

To convert it to a gif or to work with it in flash would i just save it and then open it in flash because at the moment it is on a cd. I know this is probably a stupid question:)

[luma]

I think AVI is a "wrapper" format for different movie formats, e.g., DivX.

WildAngel, have a look at the file size (right click the file and select Properties). Normally, AVIs are rather huge.

I wouldn't spend too many bytes on some background image. Normally, it's more important to have a fast loading page.

Maybe you can just grab one frame (e.g., by pressing Alt+Print) and paste it in an imaging programm and save it as JPG and use this as your background.

It's more important to have good information about your company. If you want to use the AVI, you could add a link on your about page (state the file size and format). See if anyone cares.

[tedster]

Several animated gif utilities will import an AVI and export GIF. As luma said (and you mentioned originally) the file size would be the bugaboo. But once it's an animated gif, you can delete image frames that aren't that necessary and also reduce the color palette -- perhaps you'll still get a nice effect with just a few kb.

I'm going to move this post over to the Graphics forum -- maybe we can get more input from the people who focus on these things.

[WildAngel]

Thanks for your input:)

Angel

[edit_g]

If you have Flash MX the compression for video is pretty astounding- its worth trying importing the movie into Flash- it will look great and the size might be ok.

[kingkelly]

You can easily import an AVI into flash, and then put your logo and stuff on top of it, and save as gif, swf, avi, or whatever...

animation Shop (which comes with Paint Shop Pro) opens gifs as well as AVIs (frame by frame), and can export it to a tightly compacted gif.