How to Create Custom Start Orb Image

kucing13 said:

good tutorials. keep it up, ganbate!!!

Domo arigatou.. (I watch way too much anime...)

ZaLiTH said:

windowsapple said:

This tutorial uses random google images skillz. Enjoy!!! XDD

Hi windowsapple, I've always preferred to create my own images for the Start Orb with a proper picture/photo editing program (and I think many other people do too) instead of using a 'wizard' type app like that.. But that's just personal preference.

Just a thought, but why don't you create a new tutorial covering that app instead of doing it as a comment here..? I think quite a few people, especially those that don't have PhotoShop or GIMP would find it very helpful.

Um, Brink put that here. Not me.

windowsapple said:

ZaLiTH said:

windowsapple said:

This tutorial uses random google images skillz. Enjoy!!! XDD

Hi windowsapple, I've always preferred to create my own images for the Start Orb with a proper picture/photo editing program (and I think many other people do too) instead of using a 'wizard' type app like that.. But that's just personal preference.

Just a thought, but why don't you create a new tutorial covering that app instead of doing it as a comment here..? I think quite a few people, especially those that don't have PhotoShop or GIMP would find it very helpful.

Um, Brink put that here. Not me.

You mean your post...? Uh... Ok then, I'm slightly confused, but it's no problem. It was just a suggestion anyway..

Its ok. I'm confused too./ :P

Do you have a download for that one you made in the tutorial? Great tutorial by the way

allmasteraa said:

Do you have a download for that one you made in the tutorial? Great tutorial by the way

I don't have it with me here at work... But I might still have the files on my PC at home. I'll look tonight, if I do I'll post it here for you tomorrow.

I've made my own orbs... well, cubes and I guess I might've done the sides a bit too big, even though I made the canvas size the right size. They came out looking great and I tested them, but unfortunately the top gets cut off and doesn't show past the top of the bar. You can take a look if you like. Any advise or help is appreciated =]

PatentPendingX said:

I've made my own orbs... well, cubes and I guess I might've done the sides a bit too big, even though I made the canvas size the right size. They came out looking great and I tested them, but unfortunately the top gets cut off and doesn't show past the top of the bar. You can take a look if you like. Any advise or help is appreciated =]

Just had a quick look at the PSD in the attached ZIP file; but before we get to that, one very important part I think you missed:

   Warning

Don't let the effects go too far off the the sides! The taskbar isn't as big as the 54x162px Start Orb images will make you think... Try and keep the majority of your Orb within about 9 or 10 pixels of the border of each block. Below is an example of a 9px border around my Orb:

If you try and keep the edges of your button within these boundaries (about 9 to 10px from the background edges in a 54x162px size) then it'll fit better on your taskbar.

Other than that, when I checked the 'Channels' list, there was no Alpha channel. You missed a few steps though, I've attached some images below:

Step 1
Merge the layers of your button states (normal, hover, clicked) so they can be selected properly in the next step.

Step 2
Select the pixels for your button; either hold ctrl (or 'Command on a Mac) and click the layer preview, or right click the layer preview and click 'Select Pixels'.

Step 3
Create the Alpha layer (simply click the 'Add new layer' button) and paint it white.

After this it is vital that the image be saved as a 32-bit BMP, this should be automatically selected if you have the four required layers (Red, Green, Blue, Alpha), but double check when saving it anyway.

ZaLiTH said:

allmasteraa said:

Do you have a download for that one you made in the tutorial? Great tutorial by the way

I don't have it with me here at work... But I might still have the files on my PC at home. I'll look tonight, if I do I'll post it here for you tomorrow.

And unfortunately I don't still have the image I used for the orb I made with this tutorial, I don't know where it went.. Sorry about that.