I’ve tested it with more than 20 highly different fonts. It still has some difficulty scaling certain fonts correctly… you have to experiment a little — but it is FAR more effective and much simpler than using ImageMagick or imagettftext() in PHP. Also, with PHP there is often a noticeable delay while the image is being generated. With sIFR I have not yet noticed even a hint of a delay on any servers I have tested on.

And for those of you who are still resisting Flash technology, I say this: Are you kidding me? This is a DEVELOPER’S site right? You are seriously going to develop websites today and not put Flash in your toolkit? No, you are not! Think of this: Active-X will for sure get blocked. Applets may/may not function correctly depending on whether/what version of JRE is installed client-side, and the end user will still be uncomfortable having to download the applet (security), CSS and all client-side scripting can be disabled/overridden. Next to server-side scripting, Flash may be the most reliable cross-browser tool in your bag. In my experience, while my average website may only contain a small handful of Flash objects, I could survive longer without .NET 2.0 than I could without Flash.

If you want me to see your content, make sure it “degrades” to MY viewing style.

Hang on now, sIFR 3 is still in beta! Although, of course, it’s a really cool beta.

Sorry Mark, I read those last fix releases as full releases. It’s certainly got some nifty features.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t an SVG equivalent close-to impossible?

James, I was talking more about an SVG/Canvas equivalent of the sIFR for images thing — using SVG to skew, tilt and add other border and masking effects not viable in pure CSS.

unfortunately, that is true but i think you miss the point? that being what standards represent, to both the users of the internet and us, the developers.

true, for the moment standards are not there for cross browser development but we can only try… if vendors, such as microsoft had to get up off their a*** and comply fully, instead of releasing complete crap half of our battle would be won.

> …while a Flash piece looks the same across all browsers and OS
> platforms that have the plugin.

i don’t have that plugin, and have no intentions of installing it either. i’m sure there are others amongst us who feel the same? but you are right when it comes to cross browsers, so i’ll let you have that ;)

> …, and Real Player is a joke.

isn’t it?

finally…

> You don’t get more “standard” than Flash.

flash isn’t a standard because of a number of reasons; for one to be able to fully appreciate flash you need said plugin. why should the user be forced to install software just to be able to enjoy it?

with standards, the whole point is that the user isn’t forced into making a choice s/he doesn’t want to make. just because flash works as is across any number of platforms, doesn’t make it a “standard” in the true sense of what the w3c is and what it is trying to achieve.

I’m looking to add Reid’s trick as well, along with some other effects.

Some people will choose not to use it, but others are always going to see value in being able to choose their heading typeface and that’s not likely to change. If you’ve got a better solution, the market is primed.

Get a’codin’! ;)

Perhaps you are aware that the “standards” appear differently in different browsers, while a Flash piece looks the same across all browsers and OS platforms that have the plugin. Also, flash’s video capabilities have been the only one without significant security issues, and they also work cross platform. Windows media and quicktime are spotty, at best, even after all these years, and Real Player is a joke.

I’ll take any solution that let’s me avoid the headache of programming rich designs in Microsoft browsers. You don’t get more “standard” than Flash.

Mr. Jackston, A little more tired of CSS layout/appearance issues in Microsoft browsers than usual.

exactly, so what is the point of it? never been a fan of flash, never have, and never will. not when there are more enviromentally friendly options available… such as standards for example?

flash? please…

dr livingston, grumpier than usual