Duplicating A Text Graphic 2

[scripter73]

Hi,

I'm really a novice at PSP. I've had nominal success creating a few text buttons, etc. I don't know what all of the artist lingo is.

Anyway, I have this text button that I'm trying to duplicate. I know that if I save this .GIF graphic off, I won't be able to modify the text because all of the layers have been "flattened", but the graphic is a round text box that appears to have a very definite outline that I don't know how to do. How do I duplicate that button? What are the steps? Also, I'll have to create a rollover/regular button for my webpage. How easy is it to just invert the colors of the background and text.

I think I'm rambling, but here's a link if you'd like to see what I mean.

http://www.geocities.com/scripter73/claimbutton.html.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

scripter73

 

[PetitPal]

Hi scripter73,

What I tend to do for buttons is create a template in PSP format; this is because, as you quite rightly say, saving the graphic as a gif image will flatten it whereas the PSP format preserves the layers, etc.

Any text on the button I create as a Vector (check the 'create as vector' radio button in the text entry window, to do this). This means that I can go back and change the text or changes it's colour (for a roll-over button, etc) v.easily (by using the edit vector doo-dah).

Once you have saved you template all you need to do to create buttons is simply enter the text you want, flatten the image, reduce the colour depth to 256 (i find optimized octree works nicely for most things) and then save it as a gif file (using the optimizer to squeeze the graphic size down [HINT: on the 'Colours' tab in the optimizer check the 'use existing palette' button]).

You can now undo once or twice and you have your template redy to make another button. Easy, eh?

With regard to copying your existing button all I can say is that in case where I want to copy something like that I find it easiest to save a copy of the original graphic in PSP format, or something, and then add a new layer to the graphic and, effectively, 'trace' over the top. Then just delete the layer with the original graphic and there you go!

Hope this is useful, if not give me a scream!

X-)

PetitPal.

 

[scripter73]

Thanks PetitPal, the advice you gave was VERY helpful. Worked like a charm.

Thanks again!

scripter73

 

[PetitPal]

Glad I could help (makes a nice change!)

X-)

PetitPal.