Over the past couple of weeks we have been rolling out our button graphic video tutorial series, first showing you how to create button graphics in Photoshop and then showing you how to do the same using free button making software like Open Office.
Today, we are going to step into the magical world of Corel Draw and provide the same step-by-step look at how to create a perfectly measured circular button graphic using our free Corel Draw templates.
People are always asking us is it really that easy to make a pinback button? The quick answer is, absolutely! The next question is, where can I get free button making software? The most challenging thing to accomplish when making a button is designing the artwork, everything else is a piece of cake! If you want to design a pinback button on a computer, then you need some sort of graphic design software. People are always looking for free button making software that works well and is simple to use.
Update: Speaking of button making software that works well and is simple to use, make sure you check out the Build-a-Button Online Design Center, developed and managed by ABM!
There are some different choices you can make for free button making software like Gimp, however we believe in the old adage, you get what you pay for. While Gimp is free and works for many people, it can be challenging to set up and use for a novice. This being said, if it is challenging to learn, you might as well spend a little money on Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw as these are professional software packages that do not have the problems you might encounter with free button making software such as glitches and printer driver issues.
If you are familiar with Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw, then you already have the button making battle won. Adobe Photoshop is the primary market leader for graphics, however we find Corel Draw much easier to work with for most people as it seems to be more user friendly for non-graphically minded individuals. You can buy a scaled down version of Adobe Photoshop called Photoshop Elements for about $100 and it will probably do everything you need in the Button-World. Adobe Photoshop does have a long learning curve. However once it is mastered your imagination is the only limit to creating incredible graphics.
Update: Since writing this post, ABM has made it even easier for you to create button graphics on your computer using Photoshop and Corel.
First of all, you can take advantage of special deals for Photoshop that Adobe has made available through us. Click on the following link to save $20 to $30 on NEW Adobe Elements 8 products with mail-in rebate. (Exp 10/31/2010).
In addition, we have created video tutorials and free Photoshop templates for a variety of sizes to make your Photoshop experience even easier.
[Note: Corel video and templates coming soon.]
Last week we shared with you a video and pre-prepared templates to assist you when using Photoshop Elements to create button graphics. In the coming weeks before the holidays we he sharing similar videos and templates for Corel Draw and Print Shop.
Today, we are highlighting Open Office (program that you can download for free from OpenOffice.org) and making the creation of button graphics easy with a video tutorial and templates.
We had so much fun and received such a positive response for our Button Making How-To Series that we decided it was time to bring you, our loyal readers and customers, another video series.
And so here we are this morning, excited to unveil the first video in our exciting Template Tutorial Video Series.
The goal of this series is quite simple: we want to show you how to create perfectly sized graphics for button making. Each video post will include two primary tools to accomplish this:
Today we are going to deal with Photoshop Elements, one of the most popular graphics programs available today.
We are back with another edition of The ABM Customer Spotlight. In our first installment, we told you about ABM customer Barrel of Monkeys.
Today, we take a trip halfway across the globe — all the way to Australia — to tell you about BandBadges.com.au.
And really, their tagline says it all: custom-made promotional badges…FAST!
When ancient man needed to find a more efficient mode of transportation, it resulted in the invention of the wheel in Mesopotamia around the 5th millenium B.C.
When colonial American man needed a way to light dark rooms other than the candle, it led to the inspiration of that famous stormy night in Philadelphia and, ultimately, the invention of electricity.
And when society was plagued by loaf after loaf of frustratingly unsliced bread, it led to what was, at the time, the greatest invention in the history of the world and perhaps the entire universe. Yes, you know of what I am speaking: sliced bread.
But today, ladies and gentleman of the buttonsphere, is truly a landmark day. Why? Because no longer will great things be called “the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
No, there is now an even greater discovery, a greater invention, that surpasses even the previously peerless greatness of sliced bread. Thus, henceforth, whenever something great or fantabulous happens, you will now all be compelled to use the phrase in its new incarnation:
…”the greatest thing since 1″ ponytail holders.”
That’s right folks, the long anticipated day is here: 1″ ponytail holders are are now a reality.
Welcome to the first ABM Customer Spotlight!
We are very excited about this new feature here on the Button Blog, where we will be spotlighting the wonderful and creative button making work of some of our most loyal customers.
The first ABM Customer Spotlight is Jill Hamilton-Krawczyk, the creative genius behind Barrel of Monkeys. And rather than having us tell you about Jill and the story behind Barrel of Monkeys, we’ll let her tell you.
Do not be fooled by the specificity of the number in the title. There is no finite number of uses for buttons, nor are we sure that what we are about to describe would fall in the exact 4,571th slot even if such a list existed.
The main idea is that there are tons of uses for buttons, and I just came across another one today.
On NPR.org, they have chosen to use political campaign buttons of recently deceased U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy to encapsulate his life. The good (his Senator elections), the bad (references to Chappaquidick), and the failed (his runs for President) are all represented in the ten-button cross section chosen by NPR.
American Button Machines is proud to announce the official launch of the web’s most immediately responsive button making tips and advice resource: The Button Blog Discussion Forum.
We launched The Button Blog a few months back as another vehicle, in addition to our main website, for providing tips, ideas, and information to customers and button enthusiasts everywhere. We are now taking the next step by creating an interactive site where users can ask questions, quickly find relevant information, and engage in lively discussion about buttons and button making.
The Button Blog Discussion Forum allows for discussion that has Twitter-like efficiency, but without character limitations. There are also intuitive navigation systems in place to make finding information as easy as pressing a button together.
We have worked hard over the years to carve out a niche as one of the most comprehensive online sources for everything related to button making. We are proud to announce our online support and assistance for anyone who wants to take part in the joy of button making.
To take part in the button making discussion, go to the following link:
https://www.american-button-machines.com/discuss
Thank you to all of our loyal customers and as always…
Happy Button Making!
American Button Machines
Brighid Brown – Director of Blogging and All Things Cool at ABM
One question that we get asked a lot by potential customers and people who are just curious about button making is: “What is the difference between a button machine, a button maker, and a button press?”
Well, I am afraid that the answer is quite complicated. In fact, it is so complicated that it will require all of one word, two syllables, and seven letters to explain:
NOTHING!