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This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, as Adobe has been sending out warnings for quite some time now. Still, some photographers have clung to old technology and will need to make changes immediately.
Now is the time to finally put Adobe Flash to rest. The browser plug-in famous for its rich animations and interactivity on early websites is gone. Released in 1996, Flash was instrumental in streaming video and playing online games at the time. It didn’t take long for creatives like artists and photographers to start taking advantage of the platform to build interactive websites to showcase their work.
Unfortunately, Flash has struggled to keep up with the changing needs of modern users. Plagued by security concerns and struggling to transition into the age of smartphones, it was truly the beginning of the end for the platform. As of December 31, 2020, Adobe has stopped providing security updates or fixes, and all major web browsers have prevented Flash from working for their users. Even those with the standalone version of Adobe Flash are on loan, as the two-week grace period from the original deadline will see the official program cease to operate on January 12, 2021.
What should I do to check if I am still using Flash?
If your web browser is up to date then you don’t need to worry as they’ve probably been blocking Flash content for you by default for some time. You can check if this is the case by going to this page, which can tell you if Flash is installed on your computer or enabled in your browser. Adobe has also provided instructions for removing Flash on Windows and Mac if you have the standalone version on your computer.
What about the photographers who still use it on their websites?
This will probably only apply to a few people, but if you are still using Flash on your website, it will no longer work. Believe it or not, I know of a few dinosaur photographers who still have Flash-based portfolio websites. It’s probably not surprising to hear that these people don’t update their sites often! The problem for them now is that the few leads and customers who might see their old sites will now be greeted with a blank screen, blocked content message, or 404 error, none of which will help them work or make sales.
If you’ve used Flash to create an interactive piece of art, one way to keep the site alive is to record the experience with screencasting software and upload the video to a site like YouTube. It won’t be the same experience users have had in the past, but it is a way to keep the work going online. If you wanted to go this route, you would have to hurry, as the standalone version of Flash will stop working on January 12, 2021. After that date it will become much more difficult to document.
Life after Adobe Flash
For those who want to relive the Flash nostalgia, there are projects like BlueMaxima FlashPoint and Ruffle Player that attempt to keep the platform alive. But for photographers who want to reach so many people with their work, it’s best to let go of the past and embrace the most universally available options. If you need to build a whole new website, I suggest you look at places like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace. These companies have ready-made website templates that will work on any device and require little effort to keep up to date. You can probably find templates that have the look and feel of a 90s Flash-based website, but with all the future-proof compatibility for modern times.
So there you have it, the end of Adobe Flash. If you are of a certain age, you will probably remember a lot of how it shaped the internet as we know it today. It is not the first and will not be the last software to become obsolete. For photographers, staying on top of developments is essential as our websites are our calling card for clients and potential clients. Anything that prevents these people from seeing our work can only hurt business.
Main image by Hatice EROL, used under Creative Commons.
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