[phantomdentist]

I'm not really sure what to call this so the best thing to do is give an example.



Thats from gamespot at the below url

Image changer

I'm not sure what to call it. Its just a resonably simple flash vid that has 5 images with a few bits of text and links that automatically scroll through at a given rate. On the left ahnd side there are also a few buttons that allow you to jump straight to one of the main images.

I know roughly whats behind this but have never found a tutorial on actually creating one of these which would be really helpful. Also if anyone knows where you can buy these template style it might be worth it for a bit of dissection. Finally if this particular style of flash gallery/nav setup has a name I would be greatful to know what it is as thats propably why I can't find a tutorial

Thanks

[FizixRichard]

TBH I'm not sure what you would call that kind of gallery; as in a definition.

However its not difficult to build. Here is a quick and dirty process (running this off the top of my head so might not be the best way of doing it, but certainly what I would say the easiest).


1. If you want users to be able to click the the thumbs on the left, set them up as button movie clips; otherwise don't.

2. On the thumb clips have two frames, one for highlighted and one for normal

3. Name the thumb clips (i.e. thumb1, thumb2 etc.)

4. On another layer have the main background image movie clip, have x frames; each holding a different background image (name the movie clip something like "background").

Then in the AS:

1. Add a preloader first
2. Have some AS which runs on a timer, say every 5 seconds rotate around to the next background; so tell the background clip to progress one frame and tell the thumb clips to swap from normal to selected as needed.

You'll need a counter and flags to hold where you are in the process; it'd be mostly about telling the clips where to go.


Obviously if you want to do a good job of it you would stream the graphics in and instantiate the clips for efficiency (bringing as much in to code as possible), but above is one way you could build it.

[invisionshosting]

If you do not mind spending about $8-10, then go to activeden.com

They have a huge list of these type of galleries. Then all you would have to do is customize the layout/colors of it a bit to match your design.

[invisionshosting]

By the way, sometimes going to activeden saves a huge amount of time. Why spend 2 or 3 days building something when you can go and buy it for a few dollars at activeden. It is a huge timesaver.