How to make buttons

Inevitably, you will want to create a button that matches the ones we've provided. The Button Steps.psd file has the fonts, colors, etc. for creating our buttons. You can also follow the steps below to create your own. Buttons were created with Photoshop 5.5.

Please note, this is not a tutorial on how to use Photoshop, some knowledge of Photoshop is required. Good luck.

Step 1 - Sizing


Using File/New, open your new file, enter your size information, select a name and press ok.

Button sizes are 55 x 55 for the square buttons and 76 x 55 for the rectangular buttons.

 
 

Step 2 - Add your color

Select your color. We used 6 different colors for our base colors. The RGB values are…


Orange - 253/153/0
Yellow - 255/255/153
Brown - 153/153/102
Robin Blue - 102/153/204
Rose - 204/102/102
Grey - 204/204/204

Fill your background with the color.

Step 3 - Add Effects


In the layers palette, right click on a layer and select Effects.

Deselect Drop Shadow from the check box,
from the drop down list box select Bevel and Emboss. Check Apply.

The values should be…
Highlight Mode is screen, opacity 75%, color white.
Shadow Mode is multiply, opacity 75%, color black.
The style is Inner Bevel. Global angle of 120. Depth and blur of 5.

 
 

Step 4 - Add Text

Text colors are…
Blue - 0/102/204
Red - 204/0/51
Grey - 204/204/204
Black - 0/0/0

Font is ITC Kabel BT, Book, Faux Bold at 20 points.

Type, press ok, and center your text on the background.

Step 5 - Add Text Effects

Right click on the Text Layer. Select Effects.

De-select drop-shadow from the apply check box.
Select Bevel and Emboss from the drop down list. Check Apply.

Highlight Mode is screen, opacity 75%, color white.
Shadow Mode is multiply, opacity 75%, color black.
Change Style to Outer Bevel, angle to 120 global,
and depth and blur to 3.

Press ok.


Congratulations! You've now built your Button. Onto the final step.

 
 

Step 6 - Save your button

Create a new empty layer.

In the layer dialog box, select the right arrow, scroll down to Merge Visible and as you click and release on Merge Visible, hold down the ALT key. Holding down the alt key while performing a merge visible will merge the visible layers into a new layer while leaving the original layers intact.

Select File/Save a Copy. Save as a bmp file, and voila', you're finished.