Making an Oval Button without using a font
So many people have asked how I made my oval buttons on my mainpage, that I decided the easiest way to explain is to make a tutorial. This button is made using the path tool, and requires no fonts or dingbats to make them. That is one thing that makes Photo Impact so unique, is that you can make things totally from scratch without the aid of extra filter programs.
Start with a new image 200 x 100. You can fill the background with the color of your choice. if you like.
Next click on your PATH tool. It's over there to your left side of the screen.
Make sure that you have your MODE set at Path.
Now click on the EDIT button that is right beside your MODE choices. See it in the image above ? When that opens, click on Rounded Rectangle. Then draw your rectangle the size you desire.
Now go back to your MODE choices and change it to 3D Round. You will see your button now take on a 3D Appearance. You can automatically change the color of your button at this point by just changing the color in your Color Selection window or you could also apply a 'preset' from the Easy Pallette's Material Gallery. For this tutorial I used the Material Gallery Preset Copper 3.
See the BORDER and the DEPTH Slider in the image above ? You can slide the BORDER down to make your image flatter appearing if you chose. For this tutorial I have left it as is without changing it. Now click somewhere else outside your button, to deselect your button.
Go back to your path tool and repeat your steps...Selecting PATH MODE, and Rounded Rectangle. This time change your color to something contrasting. Draw your rectangle just a bit smaller than you did the first time. Then again, switch to 3D Rounded Mode and you will now have another layer of your image. I didnt want the material gallery settings from the first layer to effect this layer, so I used the Material Gallery and applied the REMOVE MATERIAL setting . This makes my button return to a light grey color, so I simply went back to my color choices and changed it back to the pink color I am using.
Note how I moved my border slider down some on this layer.
I wanted my button to have a metallic look to it, so I returned to the Materials Gallery and applied the Preset of Light Metal to it (this can be found under the SHADING tab)
The nice thing about P.I. is that you are automatically working in 'layers'. You can go back and make changes to each layer independently by merely by clicking on each part of your image. Experiment with it. Try going back and clicking on just the gold part of your button and make changes to it...then go back and click on just the pink part of the button and make adjustments there. Try changing the color to see how this works. It is so easy to go back and make changes to see how something will look if done differently. This is one feature that I really like about P.I.
You need to MERGE ALL when you are finished and happy with your button. Save the file in the format of your choice. Note: it is important to MERGE ALL before you save your final image, as P.I. does not automatically flatten and merge images when saving. You might end up with an image of just the active layer you were working with if you fail to merge all with your final step.
Isn't that about the easiest button you ever made ? Although it appears to be a complex image it is very simple to make.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Email me if you have questions.
Click on the E-Book button below, to download and work on this tutorial offline
