A popular question for Photographers and Artists looking to publish their portfolio on line is how to choose the best flash image gallery. But the problem is, there can be thousands to choose from, and the software they are looking for may be hidden among the thousands.

However, they must ask themselves a few important questions: Does the software do what I need it to do? Is there an easy to use interface? Are there important features available such as the ability to post photos from common photo hosting sites like Picasa and Flickr? Is the software able to display video?

Here are some popular features to look for.

Automatic Thumbnail Creation for Images and Videos

Slide Show

Meta data info

MP3 Player

Image Descriptions

Image Effects

Image Watermarking

Sub Albums

Password Protected Albums

Viewer Comments and Ratings

Shopping Cart

Multi Language Options

One important aspect of gallery software is how easy it is to use. Try to avoid programs that require you to edit an XML document to populate a gallery. This can be time consuming when considering you may be publishing hundreds of photos, and there may be a learning curve involved with the supplied files. Some flash gallery programs such as flash components, require you to possess the flash authoring program and have flash scripting ability in order to edit and publish the gallery. The best flash image gallery program will have an on line administration interface that allows you to completely manage your gallery through your internet browser with just the click of a button. You should also consider the installation of gallery software. The ideal solution would involve uploading the program files to your web host, then visiting an installation page where you can click on an "Install" button and have the entire process automated. try to avoid a program that requires editing numerous configuration files or database installation.

One other serious issue that many gallery users face is whether they are willing to spend money on a gallery. There are hundreds of free gallery programs that may produce good results, but the support can be poor and the software outdated or possibly not updated at all.

Before deciding to spend money, it's a good idea to check if there's a free trial version available, allowing you to test the product before buying it, as well as a step by step guide introducing you to the software.

When choosing a gallery, pay special attention to the user's guide. It's a great idea to read it before installing the program. Apart from the user's guide, check if there are any other types of tutorials available, such as video tutorials, that will show you how the software works, or certain features of the program. A serious software company should offer tutorials, which are an important feature to watch out for.

Furthermore, there's the question of support issues. With many popular galleries, an issue may be, after a person buys it, that's that. If a buyer has any problems with the gallery, they are unable to contact the maker for help. Look for a company that has an active support forum, and email contact options. It would also be a good idea to use these options to ask questions about the program before trying it. This will give you an idea of how easy or not it is to contact the software makers. A good flash image gallery will come from a company that offers dedicated support, free updates and installation support for life. That may be hard to find.