Flash is not free - but it's worth every penny. I have used a full variety of flash-exporting software and I can say - if you don't have the money for flash, you'll never have professional quality flash content. If you don't want it, you'd better be prepared to shell out the $$ for a flash designer, because there isn't really anything that comes close. Sorry mate.
@bobochez: I have used them, and I can say that they aren't worth the money, even as cheap as they are. Quite honestly, if you want to make flash and you spend half the money on a program that does 1/20 of what flash does, you're not really gaining anything. Flash may be a lot of money, but it's cheap when compared to video editing software. If you buy flash, you can also learn it, and make money as a flash designer - something you have no CHANCE of doing with a flash-saving program. Learn flash, because nothing makes flash better than Adobe Flash. By the way, I'm unsure what new awesome stuff they added to Flash in CS4, but I have CS3 and it's very good - if you want to enter the market at a lower intial cost, try to find a cheaper clearance Flash CS3, because 90% of the learning curve will be the same, and after you've made some money with it you can then afford CS4 or skip right to CS5 by that time. Good luck, Flash is something I understand but have no patience for. I would personally pay a flash designer to make or modify a file for me. I would never pay a designer who uses a cheap tool a single penny to design something. Hope you enjoy it, Flash design can be rewarding and very very comfortable if you're good - no shortag of work available. Hope to see you doing some flash work soon!
Haha. Patience isn't a virtue of mine either. I'm more on the business side of the matter, but was hoping to find an equivalent to a online banner generator. I might mess around with CS3 when I have some free time, and thanks for the advice.
I'm interested in flash also, do you have an example of good and bad flash websites I can have a look at? I think I know the difference, as the proper flash is a bit bigger and runs smoothly, the cheaper stuff doesn't work properly, though I'd still love if you could give some examples mate! Thanks, kingdogol
here's a simple one that's ok http://www.wwwireforks.com/flash/flash-website-design.html However, do not convert your entire site into flash. Search engines can't pick up the content. I suggest only using it for promotional purposes.
Useful tip! That example is what I call half finished flash, the headings need to be made bigger so you don't skim over them super quickly and miss what is said. In general its a good design but poorly executed. Just my 2 bobs