Comparison of the six most common prototype file formats and six prototype file formats

Source: Internet
Author: User

Comparison of the six most common prototype file formats and six prototype file formats

 

Internet product partners will not be unfamiliar with the term "prototype. Like "User Experience", it is often spoken by various people. Prototype is a way for users to experience products, exchange design ideas, and display complex systems in advance. In essence, prototype is a communication tool. Here we will introduce the six most common prototype file formats and their advantages and disadvantages.

 

1. Mockplus prototype (. mp)

 

Mockplus is a quick prototyping tool. You can complete the prototype interaction settings with complete visualization and simplicity. A large number of encapsulated components and ICON resources are also a major feature.

 

 

Advantages:

 

  • Highly Efficient production. It is suitable for designers and product managers who use the "silly" method to create prototypes, and almost do not need to learn;
  • The most comprehensive and convenient prototype demonstration support, including direct demonstration, export image demonstration, export a demo package that can run independently (Win/Mac), online and offline HTML demonstration. On the mobile phone end, you can use the mobile browser demonstration and mobile App demonstration;
  • Unique pop-up panel and content panel components, flexible editing, easy to complete common interactions;
  • The editing method of team projects is easy to understand and use. Online review is helpful for collaboration.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • Mockplus software support is required for editing and demonstration;
  • Some complex interaction effects are not supported at the moment;
  • Lack of support for PRD (Product Requirement document.

 

Practicality:★★★★

 

Ii. Prototype diagram in Sketch format (. sketch)

 

Sketch is a vector drawing application for all designers. Vector Plotting is also a common method for designing web pages, icons, and interfaces.

 

 

Advantages:

 

  • User-friendly and innovative design methods and editing operations are easy to use;
  • Supports exporting prototype design diagrams in various formats (PDF, JPG, TIFF, SVG, etc.), allowing you to export custom sizes with one click;
  • The rich third-party plug-ins enhance the overall functionality.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • You need to make every detail by yourself. It is not suitable for prototype designers who want to express ideas quickly;
  • Currently, only the Mac version is supported;
  • Software support for Sketch is required. Of course, at present, many other software can also support import and export;
  • PSD and AI File Export are not supported;
  • If you do not use the third-party plug-in, you cannot directly demonstrate the Sketch prototype on your mobile phone.

 

Practicality:★★★

 

Three-dimensional HTML page format (.html)

 

A prototype diagram in HTML format is also a common and real-time prototype file format. Currently, all the original graphic design tools support exporting prototype images in the .html format. Here, Mockplus is used as an example:

 

 

Advantages:

 

  • You can use a browser to directly demonstrate the HTML prototype on any computer or mobile phone;
  • The web page directory can be displayed on the left of the browser;
  • In a computer browser, you can scan the QR code on your mobile phone and immediately demonstrate it on your mobile phone;
  • Supports complete page jumps and interactions;
  • Multiple users can add comments on the prototype page;
  • Multiple users can add comments on the prototype page to post detailed comments.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • Re-editing of HTML web page prototype images is not supported.

 

Practicality:★★★★

 

Four-character image format (. PNG or. jpg)

 

All major prototype graph tools support exporting png or JPG images. Generally, a single page is exported. It is reported that in a later version, Mockplus can directly export UIFlow images composed of multiple pages (including page comments and connection lines.

 


 

Advantages:

 

  • It can be viewed and edited on any device;
  • High visual fidelity when used for delivery;
  • With UIFlow, You can intuitively display multiple pages and understand the process and logical relationship of the prototype project.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • Interaction cannot be demonstrated;
  • Unable to edit continuously;
  • Since both formats are non-vectors, the definition of the prototype image is vulnerable to scaling.

 

Practicality:★★★

 

5-digit original format (simplified)

 


 

Advantages:

 

  • Pdf format is common;
  • Supports vector scaling.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • Install the pdf viewer on your computer or mobile phone;
  • A complete interactive demonstration cannot be implemented. The link insertion in pdf only supports some simple page interactive jumps;
  • The page size and proportion of pdf files are difficult to automatically match with mobile phones;
  • It is difficult to edit continuously. If you need to re-edit a page in the pdf file, you need to extract a page in the Multi-page pdf file. After modification, the page will be merged into a multi-page pdf file.

 

Practicality:★

 

Six-digit original layout (.ppt or. key)

 

You can use Windows Powerpoint or Mac's Keynote software to create a prototype.

 


 

Advantages:

 

  • Production is very simple. Anyone can get started directly, and the learning cost is zero;
  • Because of the large number of built-in dynamic effects, in some cases, it is easy to achieve interaction effects, and the effect is also good;
  • It is suitable for writing a large number of remarks to form instructions.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • It is difficult to fully express interaction;
  • If you do a real machine demonstration, the page is difficult to adapt and the operation is inconvenient;
  • It is more suitable for presentations and presentations.

 

Practicality:★

For more design-related products (tutorials and experience sharing), do the following:Blog | selects the best product design and UX/uidesign Resources

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