PSP Tutorial: Windows Media Player 11 Button

Here is our second tutorial for Bumped! With this 3 part tutorial you will learn how to create a Windows Media Player 11 Button Entirely in Vector. Oye Vaye.. This tutorial is very challenging and fustrating, and you may give up when you try to edit "nodes." I have split the tutorial down to 3 levels of difficulty. Those who want to quickly make a button with the least amount of features can stop on the first page. If you can handle a challenge try to make it up to the third page.

Elements of WMP 11 Button Design.
The Button is made out of 5 Components.
1. Blue Circle
2. Top Shine
3. Shine Curvature: Optional..
4. Bottom Glow: Optional..
5. Bottom Left Reflection: Optional..

The Hardest part of this tutorial is the [3] Shine Curvature and [4] Bottom Glow. It will require advanced Node Editing. Node Editing is where you change the shape of the object using the pen tool. You will have to move lines a bit to get it right.

Step 1: Start with a fairly large image of 400×400, color it black with the Paint Bucket.

Step 2: First we will begin with a Circle. As Seen below. By default you should see a rectangle in your Tool Bar. Click the Rectangle (G) Drop Down to select the Elipse Tool (Q). Now before you draw your circle, Make sure your Tool Options (F4) Pallete says "Create on Vector". Hold the Shift Key and Hold your mouse down to create the circle.

Step 3: After you created the circle on a Vector Layer. Click on the Object Selection Tool (O). Click on your Circle and Right Click, and select Properties OR Double Click the Circle.

Step 4: In the Vector Property, Make Sure Anti-Alias is checked. Stroke should be Unchecked, Fill Should be checked. Click on the color in the Fill Box. Click on Gradients, Click on Edit.

Step 5: Click on New… Type a Gradient Name. Click on the left Color Position [1], click on the Custom box [2], click on the Color box [3]. Type #3d93d0 in the Html Box. Click OK. Click on the Color Position on the Right [4], Click on the Color box [3]. Type in the color #0b18a2 in the HTML box. Try to set up the colors as the diagram below.

Step 6. When your back to the Gradient Material Properties. Click on the Sunburst box [1]. Uncheck Link Center and Focal Points [2]. Under Center Point: In Horizontal type 45. In Vertical type 24. Under Focal Point. In Horizantal type 47, in Vertical type 100. Click OK Twice. Now your circle should be blue.

Step 7: Its time to whip out the Layers Pallete.  Your Layers Pallete is F8, and Create a New Vector Layer. Name it "Top Shine".

Step 8: Ok So now, The Top Shine is basically the Top Half of the Circle. Duplicate Your circle by Right Clicking on it and select Copy. In your NEW Layer, Right Click and paste it. So the Blue circle is on the bottom layer (Vector 1), and the White Circle is on the top layer. Move the new circle over your blue Circle, and change its colors. The Fill must be White, No Stroke, Anti-Alias must be checked.

Step 9: Click the Pen Tool and Right Click on the Circle and Click on Convert To Path. Now In Your Tool Options (F4) You’ll notice a few modes. Click on the Arrow (Edit Mode) and Drag the mouse over the bottom node [1]. Delete it and there you have your top shine. But the Top shine must be smaller than the circle.

Step 10: Click on the left Node and Move it inward so a bit of blue shows up, play with the arrow curves if you have to, but try to get it neat and looking almost like the picture below.

Step 11: Change the Layer Transparency in your Layer Pallete to 34. And You should have a top half with a little gloss.

End Result: Your result should end up like this. But thats far too easy right? If you want to make it more glossy continue to Page 2.

Page 2: I’m Ready For More Advanced Lessons

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