Making a Text Link Banner Tutorial

Making a Text Link Banner

You will need:

JASC Paint Shop Pro. You can download a free 30-Day version

This tutorial is intended for beginning users of Paint Shop Pro. I am using Version 7, but you should be able to follow these steps with other versions of PSP. The Tutorial is also part 1 of a 3-step tutorial on making an animated supporter's button, so please try the other tutorials. Please write me if you have any questions.

1. Click on the new file icon in the top tool bar: Use these settings:
width = 100, height=100, color=transparent (See Fig. 1)

Figure 1 2. Flood fill the square with a color of your choice. Click on the paint
can in the bottom left tool bar:

, then click on the forground color
     square (the first square at the top right) See Figure 2 below. Then
    click on the color of your choice. I chose blue: #8183D9 Choose ok.
    Then click on the paint can again and left-click on your square. The
    square should fill up with the color of your choice.

Figure 2

Fig. 3 3. Now we will make a border for the button. Click on the background
    color square. (See Fig. 2) and change it to a complimentary color. I
    chose yellow (#FFFF00). Then on top toolbar, click on Image, then
    add border. In the border settings, check symmetric and choose 4.
    (See Fig. 3) Click ok. A gold border surrounds my graphic now. It
    looks like this:

4. Resize the button back to 100 x 100: Click on Image, Resize. Choose
Pixel Size. Make the width=100 and the height = 100. (See Fig. 4)

Figure 4 5. Save the button: Click on File, then Save As, and save the button as
blankbut, with file type= .psp
6. Now we will add text. Click on the Text Icon on the bottom of right
tool bar:

Then click anywhere on your button. Use the drop-down
    arrow next to font to choose the font you want to use. I used
    GoudyMedieval. Choose the font size you want to use. For this
    button size, I chose 12-point. The type of font, color and graphic size
    will determine your font size. Choose what you think will work. On
    the left side of the Text screen, click stroke arrow (first one) and
    choose null. Choose your fill color. I chose red (#FF0000). Click on B
    for bold type. Then type in the name of your site. My site's name will
    take 4 lines, so I do one line at a time and type "The Realm". Then
    make sure floating is selected on the bottom of the screen and click
    ok. (See Fig. 5)

Fig. 5 7. The text will appear as selected text on your button. If you ar enot
happy with the size of your text (too small or too big), then click on
undo on the top tool bar

, and repeat #6 until you get the size
    correct. But keep the text selected! Hint: if the selection around your
    text disappears, just click on undo until the selection returns.
8. When you are happy with the size, move the text to where you want
    it on the button. You do this by running the mouse over the selected
    text, until it turns into a blue, 4-headed arrow. Then hold the left
    mouse button down and move the text to where you want it.
9. You may leave the text like it is and deselect it (click on slections in
    top toolbar, and then no selection). Or while the text is still selected,
    you may place some 3-D effects. I used an inner bevel. In the top tool
    bar, click on effects, then 3-D effects, then inner bevel.In the top of the
    inner bevel settings, use drop-down arrow to choose metallic. Click
    ok. (See Fig. 6)

Fig. 6 10. Now, if you're likeme, you still need to type in the rest of your site
    title. Repeat Step 6 - 9, until you have finished typing each line of
    text. save your button as textbut, file type= .jpg
    Now my button looks like this:

11. Click on Effects, e-D effects, and choose buttonize. Use these settings: height=8, width=8, opacity=80, Transparent edge (See Fig. 7) Click ok.

Fig. 7 12. Save the button, and you're done!

You now have a text link button for your site. You can also change the size of the new file and make a large text link banner. Why not try to make one? Use 486 X 80 for the banner.

Go on to Part 2: Make a Graphic Link Button

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© Dragon's Breath (aka The Dragon Lord), 2002, 2003. This tutorial was created by The Dragon Lord at Dragon's Breath Tutorials. It is free to use, but do not remove it from my site! Please tell your friends to come visit. Thank you.