MiniLink Button Tutorial

This is what we are going to create:
Finished button

Creating a minilink button is fun and something that is useful.
You can use it for your website instead of a regular text link,
or you can use it in your emails. This tutorial is written for Paint Shop Pro, version 8.
You don't need any outside filters, just Paint Shop Pro,
download a demo here: http://www.jasc.com.
You will also need a picture tube that you like,
(please make sure that you don't use copyright protected material)
A font that you like and that looks good when using small letters.

Let's start! Open up PSP and create a new image:
New Image settings

Now you have to choose a foreground color and a background color.
Choose two different colors, one is supposed to be your frame color,
and the other one your background color.
I have chosen a green color for my foreground color and
a beige color for my background color:
Foreground and background colors

Now use your floodfill tool and floodfill your image
with the color you would like as your frame color,
I have chose my green color.
Go to Selections/Select All, contonue with Selections/Modify/contract
and enter the number 5 and then press OK.

Now floodfill with the color you would like for your background,
I have used my beige color. Your image should now look similar to this:
Your image so far

Selections/Invert.
You will now have a small border/frame selected with marching ants.

We are now going to add an Innerbevel to the frame.
Go to Effects/3D Effects/Innerbevel with these settings:
Innerbevel settings

Now let's add some shadow, Effects/3D Effects/DropShadow:
DropShadow settings
Selections/Select None.

Your image should now look similar to this:
Your image so far

Layers/New Raster Layer, klick on your Picture Tube tool
and select the tube you would like to use.
You will have to play with the settings, but please note
that you will probably have to enter a low number for "scale".

Now click once on your image to add your tube.
Is your tube a bit blury? Choose Adjust/Sharpness/Sharpen.
Use your Mover tool to position your tube in the left corner.
Zoom your image and use your eraser tool with these settings:
Eraser settings
and carefully erase parts of your tube that might cover
the frame part of your image.

Now we are going to add some text.
Change your foreground and background color to a new color.
Keep in mind that you want the text to be readable against your
background. I have choosen #32342B.
Use these settings, but change the text to the one you would like:
Text settings

Choose Layers/Convert to Raster Layer and then Adjust/Sharpness/Sharpen.
Use your Mover verktyg and position the text to the right.

If you would like to you can add a dropshadow, Effects/3D Effects/DropShadow:
DropShadow settings

Your linkbutton is finished!

My button turned out like this:
Without dropshadow on the text
Finished button
With dropshadow
Finished button with dropshadow on text

Thank you for doing my tutorial.
If you have any questions or comments - feel free to email me.