1.
Animation can
add pizzazz, a sense of "Wow!" Overused, it adds too
much busyness or causes headaches.
2.
On your Home
Page, animation enlivens the visitor's introduction to the product
or organization. It makes a good first impression.
3.
Movement on
a page unconsciously creates the feeling that this website is
not going to be boring. It also says that your ministry or church
is not boring, either.
4.
People are
used to TV, and the computer monitor resembles a TV. Although
they don't come to the computer to see a movie (not usually anyway),
they do associate entertainment with movement and action.
5.
Animation
can be used to bring static pictures to life. Using a good graphics
designing program, take the original picture, alter it in some
way, and compile both the first one and the altered versions in
an animation program. A simple way to add life is by changing
colors:
OR 
6.
Keep in mind
that different computers and different modems show the animation
at different speeds. WebTV makes them really, really fast. People
with old equipment will see them much slower. Don't worry too
much about the extremes, but keep it in mind.
7.
Animated graphics
take longer to download onto the visitor's computer, because they
are really multiple graphics being layered on top of each other.
Therefore, keep them as small as possible. Besides, a large animated
object is way too distracting! And to minimize downloading time,
don't use many graphics on a page that has animation.
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EXTRA TIPS
Movement
captures the eyes' attention. Choose where to use animated graphics
based on where you want the eyes to travel.
Other
than considering the time it takes to download a page (more animation
= slower download), how many animated graphics is the right amount
to have on one page? Think of animation as spice in a meal you
prepare. Use just a dash of it here and there! Too much movement
amidst static text and non-moving graphics looks distracting,
disjointed, and it says you don't know what you're doing.
Animation
can also be used to add text to pictures or pages; try fading
in a title. Take a look
at this example (watch for the word "ministry").
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