Lets open a new image 200x 200 with a black background.
Pick a color for the foreground in you color palette. I have chosen Blue.

Now click on the preset shapes tool. and choose a shape
from the dropdown menu on your tool palette. I chose a circle.
Make sure your settings look like mine below.

Now put your cursor somewhere in the middle of your blank image, and draw a circle.
Your image should look something like this:

Now used your magic wand to select the circle.

Now lets make some copies of the image to work on. Press CTRL + D on your keyboard.
You should know have a duplicate image! Make sure the duplicate is selected by clicking on its title bar, and make sure you still have marching ants around the image. Then go to image effects inner bevel. Play around until you get something you like. I used the "raised metallic" preset:

Instant button! Now all you need to do is add text.
You can also apply a sculpture effect. Select you original circle by clicking on the title bar, and duplicate it again. Select the duplicate and go to image effects sculpture. I have used the "leather" preset here:

Lets try something a bit different, save this image to your hard drive (or use your own) then open it in PSP.

Duplicate your original circle again. Now click on flood fill

Choose pattern from the dropdown menu on the control palette.

Then on the pattern tab, use the dropdown menu to select your background image.

Now click anywhere in your circle. You should have something that looks like this:

No go to image effects inner bevel and you have a slightly different look again!

Here are some I made using different shapes:

So buttons are really easy to make.
Try adding a drop shadow to your button, when you use a light colored background.
You can add text using the same techniques you learned in your text lesson.

Assignment: Do the lesson again, but use a different color or background. Make as many buttons as you like, try adding some text to them. Upload them to a page in your web directory, Then it is time for your exam!

The Exam....

An extraBit of fun....=)

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