CoffeeCup Firestarter is a flash animation software for windows created by publisher CoffeeCup Software, Inc.
Add Life to Websites in a Flash with CoffeeCup Firestarter
CoffeeCup Firestarter Product Summary
CoffeeCup Firestarter provides users a program that enables users to develop Flash components for websites without having to invest in a platform that costs a lot. Users will have a relatively easy time to learn the ins and outs of the program, with a drag and drop interface that will only require a pointing device or a mouse. The program also allows users to make movies to be done in Firestarter format, which can then be converted and published in the Flash format.
Users can have a test drive of the program by downloading a trial version of software from the site of CoffeeCup Software. Satisfied users can then take advantage of a license which includes a lifetime’s worth of free upgrades for only $49.
CoffeeCup Firestarter Features
Adding Flash elements to a Web site easily is what the CoffeeCup Firestarter aims to provide. The program offers more than 50 visual effects like Fade and Explode, all of which are ready to be used by just clicking. More than 50 mp3 sound effects are available in the program. The program is also equipped with an editor that allows the user to add the audio effects. Text, and shapes can also be introduced into a Web site, with transitions for their entrance and exit provided, like fade in, slide in, slide out and fade out, among others.
WAV files are bigger, and thus, take longer to load compared to mp3s. Thus, the program has the capacity to convert WAV files to mp3. The FTP client of the Firestarter can also be used to upload Flash movies into a Web site by a code generator.
CoffeeCup Firestarter User Interface
The user interface of the CoffeeCup Firestarter is very easy to understand. The front page of the Firestarter is simple and actually a bit drab in design, with only a predominantly grey color in the top buttons, side control panel and bottom portion. The buttons are very self-explanatory and the user can click one or a combination of these buttons to come up with an endless number of effects. Users can also customize operating these buttons, so they are not confined with preset options while they can make their original work.
The screen for video editing is grayed out and appears when the user wants to do a movie. There’s the larger top half of the screen which shows the movie’s preview, and the smaller bottom screen which informs the user of the movie’s timeline.
CoffeeCup Firestarter Review
What works for the CoffeeCup Firestarter is the simplicity of the program. The unintimidating buttons make the program a hit for users who are just getting their feet wet in making Flash animation and other Web site elements. Different kinds of movies can be made with the use of its set of functions. With the addition of graphic and audio elements, thanks to the program, Web sites look flashier and more polished. As for the product’s limitations, the interface and functions fare quite well. The final frames of the finished products are sometimes lost. But obviously, the pros of the software outweigh the cons.