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Software: Ulead
PhotoImpact 7 Skill Level: All Featured Tools: Z-Merge Tool, Path Drawing Tool Description: This is a great technique to create a menu bar for a splash page By applying different backgrounds and textures, as well as merge values and transparencies, you can achieve some pretty dramatic results. I have enlarged the sample so that you will have some idea of the Z-MERGE TOOL. |
| 1. Open up a white canvas 512x482 (standard) or
approximately the size you want for your menu bar.
Mine was about 5x1-1/2". Note: Item 7 below will indicate that this vertical bar must be checked for Z-merge. (You will see a screenshot of where the Z-merge tool button is in Item 7.)
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| 3. Click on the Material icon on the attributes bar and use the following settings: Transparency 40; Bevel - 3D Pipe Light - 2 Direct Border 15; depth 30. This can be adjusted as you wish to get the desired effects, i.e., shadow, Bump map for texture, or you can utilize a preset as this is a Shape. Let your imagination run wild. |
| 4. Next you
need to create your "buttons". Use the same rounded rectangular shape; HOWEVER,
change the mode to 3D Round. 5. Click on the Material icon (as #3 above) and ONLY change the transparency to 30. Again, please let me stress that the above are just basic suggestions and I'm sure you'll develop something spectacular with a little experimentation.
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Note: Let me also remind you to save your image as a UFO file often and you might want to keep it as objects for future use..
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Drag the button into position over the vertical bar shape. Then
click on the Merge icon on the left side of the window.
7. NOW it's time to merge. You'll note by the screenshots, that
you must click on (select) the object to do the merge. NOTE:
Both the vertical bar and the button should be checked for Z-merge. |
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| 8. Duplicate each button when
you are satisfied of the merge results and move them to where want them on the bar.
Note: At this point, CTL click each button and choose SPACE
EVENLY, then choose Vertically. |
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9. CTL click on the bar itself, while the other objects are still selected and right hand click and choose MERGE AS SINGLE OBJECT. |
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10. Now is when you add whatever
names
want these buttons to represent as links which could then be "Image Mapped" (selecting portions of a graphic to link to other locations or files -- in place of hypertext). 11. Just right hand click, merge all and save and crop any excess space by using either the Crop Tool or the rectangular selection tool and typing CTL R. Note: As mentioned earlier,
if you think you'll be using or modifying this in the future, do NOT
merge and save the file as a UFO prior to saving as a JPG or GIF file. You can also create different shapes and curve the text on them -- just use your imagination. Also, the Z-Merge Tool is capable of merging many different objects at varying degrees on the same graphic, so enjoy experimenting! Good luck and email me if you have any questions. Hillary |
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