Tabs Anyone? 1

[scripter73]

Hi,

I've wanted to do this now for a year, but didn't know how. I want to create a "tabbed window effect". I'm assuming in order to do it I'd just have to create some buttons in PSP and design them as tabs. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to do this? I mean, should I just create a rectangle box, fill it with a color, and then cut out a tab? Or is there an easier way? I want my tabs to look similar to the tabs on this forum if that'll help.

Thanks in advance.
scripter73

 

[LittleRedHat]

If I've understood correctly ...

Suggest you design one tab in its own window, using the preset shapes. Then keep copying and 'pasting as a new selection' into your main design window for as many tabs as you want. This will allow you to place them how and where you want.

If you want the tabs to be different - another colour for example - you can either change it in the tab window or use Window/Duplicate to create a brand new tab window, still seperate from your main design window.

Hope this helps.

LRH

 

[LittleRedHat]

Further thought that you might find useful ...

To select just the image that you want to paste as a new selection in another window use the magic wand. But don't select the image, select all the background. Then click on Selections and then Invert, which when you copy will 'lift' the image from the window.

Obviously this works at its best with graphics with dstinct edges, but with a bit of work can be easily used for many graphics. When selecting with the magic wand, try different tolerance levels to get the cleanest selection. It can also sometimes help to add a small all round border (Image/Add Border)in the same colour as the background ... to make the selection possible with only one click.

In a bit of a rush ... hope this is clear!!!

LRH

 

[scripter73]

Thanks LittleRedHat for your help.

Your advice is great, but I haven't gotten as far as designing the tab.

Here's what I did in an attempt to design my tab.
1) Created a rectangle with a background color I want.
2) Now I want to create the rounded edges. I took your suggestion and went to Image/Add Borders, but I don't see where I can add a round edge. Here's what I see in the Add Borders window:
Border Size
<checkbox> Symmetric

Top <pixel box>
Bottom <pixel box>
Left <pixel box>
Right <pixel box>

Do you have any ideas on how to actually design the tab?

Thanks,
scripter73

 

[LittleRedHat]

Hi there!

Make sure you have the View/Toolbars/ToolOptions Palette ticked. If it gets in the way when you're working on a graphic, hitting the Tab key wil hide and replace it.

In the preset shapes drop downbox there is a rounded corner rectangle you could use. If you click the second tab, you can set your own option for mitre limit/corner roundness.

If symmetric is ticked in Add Borders you just enter one figure and equal borders are added. If you don't want equal borders, untick symmetric and enter whatever you wish for top, bottom, etc. A quick experiment will give you some ideas as to the size of the result. The color of the borders will be whatever color you have set as the background on the color palette.

This is going to be complicated in words!!! LOL

Perhaps you could use overlapping rectangles in your main window for the page area. Set up rounded edge rectangles for the tabs in a seperate window/s. Cut and paste as new selections onto your 'pages' in the main design. If you then want to clear any unwanted lines to seperate the pages and make the tabs part of each of the pages, use the rectangular selection tool to mark the unwanted lines and hit delete. Again you'll either need to have the background colour set to whatever you're using, or alternaively use Fill to color the selection rectangle before you cancel it. The quickest way to cancel is to right click.

You can then use the paint brush to clear any stray bits of lines that have missed the delete.

Alternatively you could use the paint brush or the draw tool/single line for clearing unwanted lines.

How are we doing? I'm happy to switch to email if you think it would be of more help being able to exchange ideas via graphics.

LRH

 

[LittleRedHat]

Rethinking it!!!!! s-)

You probably don't need overlapping pages.

Rounded tab boxes plus a long thin rectangle attached to the first should produce something similar to the tabs in this Forum. To put in the curve at the bottom will mean a bit more work. Shall we see if this works for you first?

Draw your long thin rectangl, with the border and fill the same color as your first tab. Select it with the magic wand and slide it on to the first tab. As usual... the background color being set to your window background will not leave a 'hole'. If it does, just 'Fill'it!!!

LRH