Think small. (viewpoint).

The Web is easy to neglect. Sure, it has valuable product information, software patches, perhaps the occasional discussion board. But for content creators, the value of developing true graphical complexity has not been apparent. So the best bet is to wait until the technology matures a little more before adding Web expertise to your repertoire, right? Wrong.

There has never been a better time to think about how your talent can cross over to the Web and give you an edge in the creation of rich, interactive experiences. While the Web is certainly a volatile place, waiting for a level of stability is pointless. It's not in the nature of the Web for that to happen. And while the dot-com fallout is real, there's nonetheless a growing demand for complex graphics content.

So where should you start? The transition may be simpler than you first imagine. Many of the current 3D authoring pack ages can already export Web-capable formats. Start by exploring some of those unused options in your File menu. Of course, the challenge lies not simply in becoming familiar with new features and revisions of the software product you already use, but also in learning new tools.

You may find these clunky and unintuitive, but they should be. Developing content for the Web requires a different mindset than developing for film, television, or industry, and you should expect the tools to reflect that. Here are factors to keep in mind:

Bandwidth limits: Think small and think fast when developing for the Web. Users are notoriously impatient. They aren't going to wait an hour on a 28.8K connection to view your two-minute animation. Therefore, issues such as file size should supersede the concerns you had when developing for other media. For instance, your textures may suffer and your models may be greatly simplified. Incidentally, the pervasiveness of Flash on the Web is due to its ability to offer relatively complex interactive content with small files, as well as to the speed and ease with which users can download the plug-in, which is only about 200K.

Interaction: The Web is more than just ...