Custom Start Menu Button Collection

I'm not good at this.
I am trying to edit the attached button & having no such luck. For some reason, when I apply this button, it shows in my taskbar w/a black circle around it that protrudes out larger than the taskbar (top & bottom).

I am using Photoshop 7.0 & trying to follow directions from the page: How to Create Custom Start Orb Image. If anyone can help me w/this, either telling me how to do this using Photoshop 7.0 or just recreating the button in .png form w/o the black circle; that would be great.

Sorry about that Cainicorn, I'm definitely guilty of not seeing your post....

So, how about this; I'll make both of them into start orbs for you to make up for it... Give me a few minutes.


Edit:
I didn't do anything with the colour of the leaf, sort of figured if you wanted a purple leaf start orb, you would've said so.. Anyways, the gear cog I made a very dark grey (instead of black), otherwise it would most likely disappear on some taskbars.

As I usually do, 32-bit BMPs are in the RAR, JPG previews attached. Let me know if you have any issues with them or want anything changed, I always keep PSDs of anything I do.

Thank you, thank you! The orbs are beautiful!

Arc-

I tried to do it myself (3x) & after a bit of figuring out where the tools in Photoshop 7.0 are that I needed to use (don't use photoshop much) the best I could come up with is what you see in the pics. I have NO idea what I am doing wrong.

CJW said:

Arc-

I tried to do it myself (3x) & after a bit of figuring out where the tools in Photoshop 7.0 are that I needed to use (don't use photoshop much) the best I could come up with is what you see in the pics. I have NO idea what I am doing wrong.

It looks like you missed the step where you create the alpha layer (transparency) step in my tutorial; when working with an alpha layer, anything that is white is visible, anything that's black is not.

Maybe this will help a bit:
alpha-layer-1
Select the areas of the image you want to be visible on the start orb, then click the "New Layer" button while on the "Channels" panel (NOT the "Layers" panel).

alpha-layer-2
You should now see your image go black, but your selection is still there.

alpha-layer-3
Using the "Fill" tool with white, click once inside the selection on your orb image.

When you clear the selection and go back to the RGB channel (instead of the Alpha channel), you'll see your start orb again as though nothing had changed, but Windows uses this layer to determine what areas of the orb must be shown on the taskbar.

alpha-layer-4
When you save it as a BMP, PhotoShop should default to saving as a 32-bit BMP, not a 24-bit BMP. BMPs are 8-bits per channel: 24-bit covers 8-bits red, 8-bits green and 8-bits blue, 32-bit does all three colours plus 8-bits for alpha.

If PhotoShop doesn't automatically select 32-bit when you try and save it, then stop, and go check your alpha layer.

Note: I've attached a RAR file with a 32-bit BMP of your start orb, open that picture in PhotoShop, switch to the "Channels" panel and select the "Alpha" channel, you'll see what an example of what it should be like.

Tried w/the file you had attached.
1. I used the Magic Wand Tool to select just the 3 Orbs
2. Chose 'Create New Channel' button on the "Channels" panel & image turned black, but my 3 selections were still outlined (but invisible)
3. I then filled those 3 with White & Deselected the Orbs
4. Used "Save-As', .BMP Windows 32Bit file & made sure Alpha Channels is checked

I get the same result. Oh well, I'm just not good at graphics work. Thanks for trying to help Arc & Zalith.

CJW said:

Tried w/the file you had attached.
1. I used the Magic Wand Tool to select just the 3 Orbs
2. Chose 'Create New Channel' button on the "Channels" panel & image turned black, but my 3 selections were still outlined (but invisible)
3. I then filled those 3 with White & Deselected the Orbs
4. Used "Save-As', .BMP Windows 32Bit file & made sure Alpha Channels is checked

I get the same result. Oh well, I'm just not good at graphics work. Thanks for trying to help Arc & Zalith.

That is really strange... Only thing I can think of is the selection probably didn't work as you thought, but I'm honestly not sure..

Not too sure what else to suggest.. But hey, look at it this way; until we manage to figure it out you can always come request any start orbs here. There are quite a few users here who do requests.

Sweet, I created one & it works just fine.
Only thing is, how did ZaLith add guide lines to divide the new image into 3 equal parts for the button states; 1st at 54px & 2nd at 108px?

In Photoshop, I have Rulers, Grid & Extras checked, but my Spiderman Orbs came out just a slight bit off & I have to make them just a few pixels smaller; so trying again. But attached is my 1st try along w/the pics I used.

CJW said:

Sweet, I created one & it works just fine.
Only thing is, how did ZaLith add guide lines to divide the new image into 3 equal parts for the button states; 1st at 54px & 2nd at 108px?

In Photoshop, I have Rulers, Grid & Extras checked, but my Spiderman Orbs came out just a slight bit off & I have to make them just a few pixels smaller; so trying again. But attached is my 1st try along w/the pics I used.

To get guides on your document, first make sure the rulers are visible (shortcut 'ctrl+R'), then just click and drag from a ruler onto your picture.

Also, if you hold 'shift' while dragging a guide, it will 'snap' to the pixels, which will prevent guide sitting halfway through a pixel. You might think "but it's just one pixel, won't make too much difference", but I like to avoid things like that just to be safe.

On my PC at home I have a blank PSD of 54x162px at 96DPI with all guides in place; dividing the three sections and small/large taskbar heights... I don't have it with me at work today, but I'll upload it tomorrow morning if you want?

ZaLiTH said:

Cainicorn said:

[Hmm, would it be possible to create a small, transparent start orb using this image (with only a very faint glow when you mouse over it)?
http://www.flagid.org/devices/cogwheel.gif

Thanks in advance!]
Reposting it because you may not have seen my post. It's totally okay if you can't/don't want to do it though, I understand, it's just that, since you usually do requests by new users, I thought you might have skipped over it. Also, if the gear is too small, a leaf SO would be pretty cool too :3.

http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photo...lilac_leaf.jpg

Sorry about that Cainicorn, I'm definitely guilty of not seeing your post....

So, how about this; I'll make both of them into start orbs for you to make up for it... Give me a few minutes.


Edit:
I didn't do anything with the colour of the leaf, sort of figured if you wanted a purple leaf start orb, you would've said so.. Anyways, the gear cog I made a very dark grey (instead of black), otherwise it would most likely disappear on some taskbars.

As I usually do, 32-bit BMPs are in the RAR, JPG previews attached. Let me know if you have any issues with them or want anything changed, I always keep PSDs of anything I do.

I like the leaf ...