Desktop publishing programs are responding to this threat by integrating their programs in such a way that they can output onto the web. If you want to get a job in the publishing world it is still a boon if not a necessity to be proficient in these programs, Quark being the industry standard. Adobe has released a program called Indesign which directly competes with Quark. Early reports suggest that Adobe has not scored as well with Indesign as they intended. The standard in animation right now is Macromedia Flash a program and technology from Macromedia .
Flash allows users to create scalable vector animation, that looks smooth regardless of resizing.
You need a Flash plugin on your browser for animations to play but most people have that plugin already since it comes with the latest browsers. If they don't have it its a relatively small download. I still however find Flash is great for making page intros, and banner ads. And if you are an aspiring cartoonist or animator this program is a must have. Flash allows you to move static images around via paths, so you can have something move across the screen without having to create a bunch of frames.