FLASH VS HTML5

The emergence of HTML5 as a future standard for web page creation has caused quite a stir for Flash developers. HTML5 supports video and audio and uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), offering a real alternative to Flash for delivering multimedia content for the first time in nearly 15 years. This has lead parts of the web design community to assume that once all browsers support HTML5, the death knell may toll for Flash as there won't be a need for plug-ins or even Adobe software to create the content.

Apple is probably one of the most prominent organizations supporting HTML5 as a future standard, going so far as to remove the ability to play Flash on their iPhones and iPads. They justify doing so by claiming that Flash is old, buggy and a drain on the CPU. Others speculate that this may just be a marketing ploy on their behalf, as they don't want to be held hostage to another company's proprietary software. While I personally see the future as moving towards open standards and away from plug-ins, there are a number of reasons why I think this will happen later rather than sooner. Firstly, the current implementation of HTML5 is still not as feature-rich as Flash. It does not actually support animation or interactivity on it's own, requiring Javascript and CSS to make it work. The web is largely controlled by the tools web designers have at their disposal. Flash currently has thousands of designers around the world with years of experience delivering immersive and interactive content through a sophisticated toolset within the one package. To do the same work with HTML5 at the moment is simply not as easy. This has led to the creation of a small number of Flash to HTML5 converters. How accurate and useful these are in practice, only time will tell.

The one area where I do see HTML5 making inroads is with video delivery. Flash was never originally designed to be a TV set. It became the de facto video web standard simply because it was already there. Delivering video via HTML5 may be easier for designers who need to cover a large number of devices and don't need any sophisticated interactivity. Video with Flash always seemed to be undermining Flash's real capabilities.

The ultimate future of Flash is uncertain. Flash has had rivals spring up in the past. (Does anyone use Microsoft's Silverlight?) But it's clear that the HTML5 open source standard may just be it's biggest challenge yet.

Tendencias en la ilustración

Vector illustrations continue to be go-to tools for web design. Even the most minimal of layouts is likely to feature buttons and icons that were created with a vector illustration application. The endless adaptability of vectors continue to make them prime choices for backgrounds, textures and overlays, navigation elements, banners, and decorations.

So the prevalence of vectors as the web designer's building material hasn't changed. What is changing is the way they're used, and the kinds of work they're doing. Here are a few trends we've noticed:

Hand-Drawn Style

The hand-made look is not a new trend, but it definitely looks to stay strong for the next while. Designers continue to explore the textures of chalk, paint, pen and ink, sketchy lines and brushstrokes on paper backgrounds. These illustrative techniques inject a playful human element into the previously more formal fields of design.

Here we've collected some of our latest, and best, hand drawn illustartions into one handy lightbox.

Organic Techniques

Part of this arts and crafts craze has to do with a growing number of illustrators mixing their tools and techniques, and adapting technologies to bring their styles onto the screen, rather than having the tools dictate what they can and can't do. More and more of the illustrations you see are a combination of analog and digital, raster and vector. This organic style doesn't just lead to organic looks, but in general a broader range of illustration styles.

iStock's own doodlemachine has a style that incorporates paint brushes, gesso, scanners and Illustrator. Check out this recent piece walking through the journey from paint to pixel: Making Painted Textures

We found this great tutorial on combining raster and vector techniques at smashingmagazine.com.

Print Inspired

One particular off-shoot of all this cross-discipline cross-polination is a big trend of graphics inspired by print. High contrast, wood block inspired, slabs of color are paired with the rich textures indicative of the pre-digital print era.

Take a look at iStocks print inspired files

More Pixels — More Detail

Resolutions are increasing, from the new monitor on your desktop to the screen on your mobile device. Designers are taking advantage of the extra pixels.

Increasingly there are small, detailed illustrations doing a job that might previously have been handled by a simplified icon.

The Footer is Growing

Web footers have been getting larger, and people are getting creative with that extra space. The footer real estate has become a showcase for intricate illustration.

Check out this collection at webdesignshock.

The Hero Vector

Designers have increasingly been using illustrations in marquee ways. We're seeing more and more illustrations front and centre, and not just overlaying and supporting other imagery.

1. 2.

3. 4.

Like what you see? View the iStock illustartions used in these designs: 1. I see monster by simonox 2. How to make it in the city,Internet Success, and Help is at hand! by RUSSELLTATEdotCOM  3. Healthy fruit by simonox 4. bisnesman come again!! bymolotovcoketail

Style Variety

As vectors become more popular and prevalent designers are more willing to make bolder style choices. While cartoon characters and Kawaii style remain popular, they aren't the only illustrative style by a long shot any more. More and more we see illustrators emulating different art techniques (water colour, sketchy lines, pen and ink), little isometric worlds and pixel art, tattoo iconography, and a general willingness to use individualized vector looks to put a unique stamp on a design.