Custom Start Menu Button Collection

@ derekimo She might be using the wrong soft, there are 3 more similar apps out there which might not accept pngs.
@ Jaidyn I had a little work with this 1, I included an xcf file with the final look and a psd file with the orb styles, in case you want to change something. ultimate black orb.zip
looks like this:

JaidynM said:

That's great! :) Thanks.

Could you by any chance give this one an 'animation'?

The solution to the no animation problem is simple yet involved, you have to convert the image into a PNG format, then edit the image so the black space is transparent then convert it back to BMP for transparency support.

According to one of the comments, that's the solution but being a GFX n00b, I have no idea how to accomplish this simple task.

There's no need to go converting file types in order to gain transparency, each file type handles transparency very differently...

- A PNG file stores the alpha channel per pixel, so each individual pixel contains colour and transparency.
- A BMP uses an 'alpha channel', much like a layer mask in PhotoShop, each pixel still has it's own colour setting, but the alpha setting is stored in a different place.

If you want a BMP with transparency that will work as a Start Orb, simply make sure it contains an alpha channel (varies from one graphics app to the next), and make sure it's saved as a 32-bit BMP (four 8-bit channels, RGBA), not a 24-bit BMP (three 8-bit channels, RGB).

I'm a bit lost when you say give it 'animation' though, you mean the different button states (normal, hover, clicked)? Or do you actually want to animate the Start Orb? For the former, have a look at my tutorial for more details. For the latter, try Kishan Bagaria's Start Orb Animator, then you can use animated GIFs as Start Orbs.

JaidynM said:

I've already read it. Thanks by the way, it's a great tutorial. :) And yes, I do mean the normal, hover and clicked. I don't have Photoshop anyway so unfortunately, I cannot do it.

Ah... Well, I downloaded the orb you linked in the previous post, and it looks like the alpha channel wasn't updated to include the blue glow at the bottom of the orb... I'm just fixing that now for you. Give me a minute....

Edit: Try the attached orb, that should sort out the hover glow properly.

JaidynM said:

ZaLiTH said:

JaidynM said:

I've already read it. Thanks by the way, it's a great tutorial. :) And yes, I do mean the normal, hover and clicked. I don't have Photoshop anyway so unfortunately, I cannot do it.

Ah... Well, I downloaded the orb you linked in the previous post, and it looks like the alpha channel wasn't updated to include the blue glow at the bottom of the orb... I'm just fixing that now for you. Give me a minute....

Edit: Try the attached orb, that should sort out the hover glow properly.

Ah, that works well. Thanks a bunch, Dre. :)

No problem, glad to help.

Thanks for them, they are all great! :)

I wanted:
[IMG]http://www.**************/imgbnc.php/224f21ca85bc7eb789ba2780ca4c6e3e4g.jpg[/IMG] But it seems like the link is not there.