Making A Fancy Metallic Finish Button with

Photo Impact

So you want to learn to make a pretty 'metallic' accented button.  I have found that making buttons in Photo Impact, is 'very' easy to do. You dont need any extra filters to do this at all.

Ok....lets make a button !

First thing to do is make a 'new' image. For this tutorial, we will start with an image 300 x 100. Then click on the bucket fill tool and fill the image with the color of your choice if you want to use a colored background.

Now, click on the PATH tool.

 

 

Make sure your MODE button is set at 3D-Round 

Now click on the EASY PALETTE Button 

 

When your Easy Palette opens, click on the Object Library's icon (second one from the left) and then click on WEB LIBRARY 

Now you will see several tabs of objects you could choose from. We will use the BUTTON tab, and I think button # 13 will make a pretty button.  Click on # 13 and DRAG the button over to the image you made at the start of the tutorial. You will now have an image that looks like this.

You can change the 'color' or highlights of your button at this point if you want to, by clicking on the color palette and changing it to whatever you like.

Now click on the Easy Palette's first small icon (as shown) and choose the MATERIAL GALLERY

Now you want to click on the COLORS tab and choose Satin. DRAG the Satin button over to your button image you are working on. This gives you a nicer 'finish' for your metallic look that you'll soon have.  Remember that your button image is still "Selected" all this time ( the little marching ants are still marching around *grin* )           

Now click on the SHADING Tab and highlight the METAL Button choice. DRAG that button over to your button image.  You'll see some changes now taking place with the appearance of your button.

Now at this point, you can change the color again to suit your taste and needs, by two different methods. You can click on the Color Palette again, and change the colors...Each time you change the color, you'll see that the button color changes automatically. Another method would be to click on the COLOR tab in your EASY palette and chose a color from there, and drag it over to your image, just like you did with your shading button in the last step. For this tutorial, lets use the Easy Palette to apply a color. I used the DARK GREEN

Now my button looks like this.

I wanted to get a really metallic / frosty look to my button, so I clicked on the SHADING button and once more, I dragged the METAL setting over to my button.

Now, it's time to deselect your button. Right click your mouse and click merge. Voilla...the marching ants have gone! You already have a nice button, but lets make it a little fancier !

Go to your Path Tool again and select that. 

Next click on the MODE choices and choose PATH 

Now on the EDIT button right next to your mode button, click and select DIAMOND

Using your mouse drag on your image until you have a 'diamond' shape that is about the size as shown, or as large as you would like yours to be. You can play with the 'bevel' height to change the way your 'diamond' shape looks. I moved mine to about half way for this image.

Now back to the MODE button again, and this time choose 3D Round

Now your diamond shape has taken on a shape ! It's still the same green as your button, so at this point if you want it to be a contrasting color, change your colors with the color palette or in the Easy Palette as we did earlier. When you have it the color you want it, right click MERGE.

Now my button looks like this !

Again...you could stop now, or you coud add another little ditty on the top of your diamond. To do that just repeat the last step again, by chosing the PATH tool / MODE PATH /EDIT BUTTON and this time instead of Diamond try using the CIRCLE path.

Again draw your path as large as you think it should be, then go back to your MODE choice and change it to 3D Round. Change your color to what you want it to be. Then right click MERGE ALL. Crop or trim your image as desired.

Now you have a pretty awesome Button !! Here is the same image with different colored accents on top of the diamond shaped image.

The possibilities of what you can create with Photo Impact is endless. Explore the Easy Palette, and try using other choices, like Textures or Bumps to create unique effects ! You can also use Dingbats to make unusual buttons, combining it with the use of the Path Tool and Easy Palette. Here is another fun button, using the same technique ~ different button and colors.

I hope you haev enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions, feel free to email me !

Click on the E-Book button below, to download and work on this tutorial offline

CandeeKis

Happy Creating !