In my ongoing search of the internet for interesting web design news and topics, I stumbled across an intriguing site displaying a selection of Cinemagraphs; something of which until then I was entirely unaware.
What?
For anyone else not in the know, a Cinemagraph is described as a cross between a moving video and a still image. Most of the image remains in its normal photographic form whilst small selected portions are animated, such as a subject’s hair blowing in a breeze or a flickering candle on a table for example.
Why?
It’s highly probable that many will question the reason for a Cinemagraph; after all, there’s video and there’s photos, so what can you possibly gain by mixing the two? Well, here’s the thing; you would really need to see them for yourself to decide whether or not they work for you.
How?
As Cinemagraphs are very new to me, I’m not yet familiar with the more technical processes used to create them, but from what I’ve learned so far, the simple explanation is that the still image is made into a .gif file which is then manipulated using Photoshop or similar programmes.
Where?
These particular examples created by Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg have a quality that’s hard to define which somehow makes them even more interesting, but whatever that quality is, as a new fan, I for one think that Cinemagraphs will definitely add a lot of flavour to a website and offer something just a little different to visitors.
It’s all a matter of personal taste of course and it’s likely they won’t suit everyone. However, for those website owners and visitors who take little or no notice of static images or have no time for videos, Cinemagraphs could well be a happy medium.
Until next time.
