Creating web buttons

Corel Painter has a wide array of features that help you create web buttons. You can apply textures and effects to your web buttons.

Using shapes and selections

You can create web buttons using shapes or by choosing a selection from the Selection Portfolio. For more information, see Drawing shapes. For information about using selections, see To use a selection from the portfolio.

Using 3D techniques

You may want to use one or more of the texturing options in Corel Painter to create 3D effects. The following sections describe several powerful ways to quickly add 3D effects to the buttons you create.

After you’ve added a desired 3D effect, try altering the light source to create a second image that represents the button in a different state, or try using the Hue Shift slider in the Effects Tonal Control Adjust Colors dialog box.

Adding shadows

Shadows lend a definite 3D flare to a web page. You can quickly add drop shadows to text, buttons, shapes, and layers. When you apply a drop shadow to a shape, the shape loses its vector quality and becomes a pixel-based layer. For more information about creating drop shadows, see Adding drop shadows to layers.

Applying surface texture

Leading the array of Corel Painter web-friendly tools, the Apply Surface Texture feature could easily become a web designer’s best friend. You can use Apply Surface Texture to apply 3D effects to web buttons, bars, or other elements.

You can use the Reflection slider to create an effect you would expect to see in objects made of glass or polished metal, like a chrome bumper on a classic car. The Image Luminance option in the Using list box gives your buttons an embossed look. For more information about applying surface texture, see Using paper to create texture.

Using the Impasto technique

The Impasto feature lets you create the illusion of depth by applying thick paint to the canvas. You can use the Impasto technique to add a 3D appearance to all or discrete areas of your image. For more information, see Impasto.

Using Bevel World

No discussion of creating web buttons would be complete without mentioning Bevel World. Bevel World is a dynamic plug-in that can add 3D angled edges to your shapes and selections.

You can bevel any element in your painting, and then turn it into a 3D button.

Bevel World has controls that affect the 3D bevel shape being applied, as well as controls to adjust lighting. Try experimenting with lighting controls. By changing the lighting on a bevelled surface, you can easily create different states for your web buttons.

Altering lighting in the Bevel World dialog box is an easy way to create images that indicate button states.

For more information about Bevel World, see Applying the Bevel World dynamic plug-in.

You can decide later to change the settings, as long as you have not committed the layer. To understand more about committing a layer, see Converting dynamic layers.

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