Click HERE to go back to the "PSP Index page"
Some of my websites have a "textured" background instead of a colored one as this one does. On this page, the "Return" button at the very bottom looks OK, I think but on a textured background, it is nice to see a button to match that background. This is easy to do in Paintshop. For an example of the result see my home page at http://www.sticksite.com/.
1. In PSP, open the image which is the texture of the page background, and click:
edit | copy | edit | paste | as a new image
Now you have the original and a copy of it. Move the original out of the way; we'll work with the copy, just to be safe.
So now, it looks like this:
2. Now browse to, and open, the "Preset Shape" that you want; if your folders are like mine: C:\Program Files\Jasc Software Inc\Paintshop Pro 8\Preset Shapes and choose a file, e.g. Arrows.PspShape That file will probably show smaller than actual size; note the title bar; to enlarge to full size: View | Zoom | zoom to 100% Now you can see if the arrow you want to use will fit the background image; assume it will, and it now looks like this:
3. Let us pick the fourth arrow on the second row.
Use the "Crop tool" to make a box around that arrow.
make sure that the "tool options" are showing for that tool; if they are not, View | Palettes | Tool Options will bring them up:
click the check-mark on the tool option palette and only that arrow will be left:
The green and white checkered background indicates that the background is "transparent."
5. With the arrow picture still active, Image | Rotate | Rotate counter-clockwise 90 and it looks like this:
6. Edit | Copy
click the title bar of the background
Edit | Paste | As a new selection
Move the mouse so the arrow is centered on the background and then click to drop it there.
7. If you want a shadow beside the arrow
Effects | 3D effects | drop shadow
change the settings to suit yourself and click OK
Selections | Select none (to remove the "ants") and it looks like this:
8. Now use the Crop Tool again to get rid of the part you don't want around the arrow.
9. Effects | 3D effects | Buttonize (and set it the way it looks good to you)
10. in the "Image" menu, choose "resize" and make the button the size you like.
11. save your button as a JPG (and also as a GIF if you like and then compare them for quality and file size)
12. Close Paintshop and use your new button!
NOTE: if you want an "UP" version of a button as well as a "DOWN" version, "Buttonize" it before you put the arrow on, and the use the "Flip" option under '"Image" to make the opposite version; then add the arrows.
