Flash .swf vs. JavaScript for rotating images

[aajc]

Information:
Zen version- 1.3.8a
PHP version- 4.4.9
My SQL version- 5.0.91
Linux 2.6.18
Add ons- products with attributes

I am building a site for the commercial purpose of selling T-shirts. Shirts have many attributes: gender, size, color, etc. Thank you for the attributes module. It makes the site possible.

We attend Festivals through the summer months, and I had the bright IDEA of featuring our customers wearing our shirts on our homepage as if I do not have enough images to manage.

I searched and read all morning regarding Flash vs. JavaScript for rotating images. It seems there are good arguments for both, however I have used a JavaScript rotator on a previous site, and it seemed very cumbersome to change. I downloaded a free flash slideshow this a.m. and I love how easy it was to create a great slide show all in one file. Yeah, you guessed it, the professional version that does not imprint DEMO on each photo was $49.95. A price I am willing to pay if my fellow Zenners convince me it works well. I am leaning towards the Flash, and would ask the following questions of users who have walked this path before me.

1. IN the Admin> Catalog> Categories/Products> Men> "YOUR SPECIFIC PRODUCT NAME" area, where one inputs all of the relevant product information, there is towards the bottom of the page, and input field, "Products Image." Currently, I load my product images directly from my laptop for each product. A few of my shirt designs are offered in several colors. If I load an .swf flash file into this input field will the file load and sequence properly on the category/ product listing and product/ product listing pages????????????


2. AS I stated previous, Flash is new to me this morning. Is it reasonable to pay $50.00 US to aquire software to create the .swf files or is there a better way achieve this goal?

Be aware that question #2 borders on being commercial which is not permitted. Please send me a private message regarding this matter or keep it non commercial.

As always, thank you all so much, keep Zenning, we will all get their together.
Kuroi, I see you are moderating, I can't thank you enough for your contibutions.

[Flipside]

Zencart will not embed SWFs uploaded as images. A neat idea thou.

Personally ... I don't like flash for this type of thing. Flash has it's place, but this can be achieved easier and better with javascript.

First, you can upload additional images for your products.
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=58

Second, there are some great modules in the add-ons section that will present these additional images in a nice format.

Ryan

[aajc]

Flipside, thank you. I have reviewed all of the image add-ons, and yes they are great for the tpl_product_display.php page that displays the product.

I will also be using images on my home page. They will need to rotate. The home page images will not be directly related to the product, but rather images of our customers wearing our products. These are not controlled, product photos, need no links, etc. And as I stated, the JavaScript rotator that I used before did work well, but to make changes, I would have go in and manually change every image file name.

I liked the Flash on the basis that I could spend very little time organizing, and creating a rotating slide show from many random photos on my laptop into one .swf file vs. organizing them one by one with the JavaScript.

Still looking for ideas of how to get the Flash .swf to work on the home page for random images, and on the product listing, and product details pages to display colors in rotation vs. the additinal images method.

Thanks all Zenners. Keep on Zenning, and we will all get their together!

[aajc]

I do want to add, that I read extensively about the Fual Slimbox, and AJAC image swapper. I like the concept as it seems to claim to solve my problem, however I can not a find a site listed on the AXAJ thread that is current and using the add ons. If you are using the AJAX image swapper and it is working well for you. PLEASE POST YOUR SITE URL so I can go see it in action. Thanks.