Make a Media Button in Paint.net

[Pixey]

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it

 

 

This tutorial has been adapted from a previous one by Mustang2500.

Effects used:

Gaussian Blur
Outline Object
Align Object
AA's Assistant

1. Open a new Image, 800x600 and Fill it with the colour 0038AF.

2. Add a new layer and select the Gradient Tool pick Radial and Color Mode with color 7DD4F9 and set the secondary color to 0 Alpha. This will make it transparent.

Now, start to make a circle with the Light Blue on the 2nd Layer, starting somewhere around 400,530. End at 400,300.

Select the Gaussian Blur tool and set it at 7. This should give the gradient a much nicer blend into the Blue.




3. Merge the two above layers, and call it orb. Select the Eclipse Select tool and by holding down the Mouse and Shift, make a circle, about 460x460 pixels wide. Select the Move Selection tool and move the circle so the bottom is somewhere in the center of the Light Blue Gradient. Line it up as center as possible, but do NOT use the Align Object tool, it will ruin it. As soon as you have it as good as it will get, Click CTRL + I, and then DELETE. This will leave a Circle, with the Gradient in it.
Use AA's assistant at default.




4. Now, use the Object Align and make the orb in the center.

5. Duplicate the layer, and call it outer orb. Using the Rectangle Select tool select around the circle. Now grab onto the corner, holding down Shift, drag it a little bit, to create the "Border" effect used on the orb. Repeat the Align Object.

6. Go back to the orb layer. Select the Outline Object effect. Set it so Width=10, Softness=254, Color=R(109), G(211) B(255), Make sure Angled isn't checked. This will make a nice glow on the orb. (Make sure you click out of the colors for it to accept the color).

Re-do the Align Center again on both layers.



7. Now to add the Shine. Add a new layer, call it shine orb.
With the Ellipse Select draw a semi circle to cover half of the orb. With the primary color white, set the 2nd color white to 0 opacity Alpha. Draw a linear gradient from the top to the bottom.



8. Use Ellipse Select to make a circle in the center, use Move Pixels Tool to help you and fill with a radial gradient white and alpha at 0. De-select and Align Center.



9. New Layer and draw two black lines in the center horizontally and vertically.

10. New Layer and with the Shape Tool set to a Circle and Draw Shape Outline, draw
two black circles.



11. Merge the two layers.


12. Make sure to erase any black lines that overlap onto the outside glow area.

13. With the magic wand on the black lines layer, select the upper left quadrant.
Make a New Layer and fill it with two different colors of red with a linear gradient. With the gradient still selected, make a new layer and Bevel Selection at default.
Merge the two layers and Gaussian Blur at default.



14. Do this with each quadrant, using a different color, each time going back to the lines layer first to pick the quadrant, then make a new layer each time for the color gradient and another for the bevel - then merging and blurring as the steps in 13.

15. When you've finished all the colors go to the lines layer and Gaussian blur twice.



16. Go to the lines layer and with Ellipse select draw a circle over the center lines and hit delete.



17. Go to each quadrant layer and Gaussian Blur at default.

18. Flatten the image (uncheck your background if you used one).


19. New Layer for the Triangle. With a blue color 1F4BA1 and using Text Wingdings 3 with the letter P on your keyboard at size 216 draw a triangle.

20. Use the Rectangle Select and move selection tool to manipulate the triangle to fit in the center.



21. With magic wand select the triangle.

22. Make a new layer below the blue triangle and fill with black for a shadow.

Using Rectangle Select and Move Selected Pixels pull and stretch the black triangle.

Gaussian blur at 6 and lower the opacity.



23. Flatten the image.

24. Make a new layer for a final shine.

25. With Ellipse select draw a circle over the orb and fill with a linear gradient with the primary color black and secondary white at Alpha (0)



26. With Ellipse select and Move Selected Pixels make an oval over the black gradient and hit delete.

27. Gaussian blur at default and lower the opacity to about 36.
Merge the layers.



28. You can add one more shine on a new layer over the triangle by adding a white spot with the brush and using Gaussian Blur to 26.

Merge and you are done!

[toe_head2001]

Fantastic!

 

I like how you didn't stop at just making the play button, like the old tutorial did; you kept going and made the (former) WMP logo.

[racerx]

Thanks, I downloaded it and saved as PDF, I'll check it out when I get a chance.

[Ego Eram Reputo]

Beautiful. A wonderful tutorial. +1.

@racerx has a good point: I'd like to ask for a PDF attachment - if possible. Please? (I can assist if you need help here Pixey).

[Pixey]

Thanks so much @toe-head, @racerx and @EER.

 

I have now attached a PDF  .  It will ask you if Imgur is safe when you try to click on the thumbs though.

[Ishi]

Would be a good idea if someone could a more "flat", non-aero version of this so suit with the Windows 8 design...

[Eli]

Thanks Pixey.

[racerx]

The main reason I download tuts and convert to PDF, is because my main editing PC is not connected to internet for good reason. I like it running good at all times.

 

The PDF that you posted contains small images and needs to connect to see the larger images. Here is one I made with OpenOffice that contains large images: 

Edited January 25, 2015 by racerx

[racerx]

I made a Start Button for my donkey. Some days he just doesn't want to get up and go.....

 

Edited January 25, 2015 by racerx

[Pixey]

@Ishi - hopefully someone will oblige with your request

 

Thank you @Eli .

 

@racerx - So good of you to make the PDF with the bigger images.  I had no idea that could be done .

 

Edit:  @racerx .................. you posted just as I did ................ that Donkey is so cute and has a nose as cute as a button .  (I used to have a donkey and I loved it to bits).

Edited January 25, 2015 by Pixey

[Seerose]

@Dear Pixey!     Took me a while to find out how you did this. Very pretty presentation. Thank you very much. 

 

Edited January 26, 2015 by Seerose

[Eli]

I like your button Seerose. Can not stop clicking on it ! 

[Pixey]

Wow @Seerose - that's a wonderful result .

[toe_head2001]

Would be a good idea if someone could a more "flat", non-aero version of this so suit with the Windows 8 design...

 

Making it more flat is whole lot easier than you might suspect, and it doesn't need a separate version of the tutorial. Just skip the steps that add the gradients and the sheen/shine.

 

I have now attached a PDF  .  It will ask you if Imgur is safe when you try to click on the thumbs though.

 

Is there any special reason the tutorial uses thumbnails in the first place? The images aren't even very large. Having to click through to each one is a nuisance.

 

Are you just being nice to people that are still on dial-up internet, and people on those cheap laptops with a low 1366x768 resolution?

[Pixey]

 

 

 

Is there any special reason the tutorial uses thumbnails in the first place? The images aren't even very large. Having to click through to each one is a nuisance.

 

Are you just being nice to people that are still on dial-up internet, and people on those cheap laptops with a low 1366x768 resolution?

 

The original tutorial had thumbs which I followed, plus I believe this site prefers thumbs which take up less space. 

 

I could change the original tutorial to have larger images, but I will let a moderator make this decision and let me know which they prefer.

[Ego Eram Reputo]

I have no objection to larger images so long as they're within guidelines (800px).  

[Pixey]

I have changed the thumbs to larger images now. Also I have added @racerx's PDF (for which he was so kind to make for me) to the tutorial as well.

I hope this makes better viewing for all .

[Ego Eram Reputo]

Sweet. Thanks Pixey!

[racerx]

Excellent job on the remake Pixey! Looks much better and easier to follow...

 

P.S. That donkey isn't really mine, but he has stared in some of my comedic productions....

 

Yes I know I have a twisted sense of humor.

[mackenzieh]

Here's my attempt:

Sorry if it's too large. I know it's uneven in some spots but I tried. Nothing is ever perfect. I also made a few changes. With step 7, I just made the entire circle the white transparent gradient in one shot. Then in step 19 for the triangle I used the the triangle shape when I clicked on the shapes selection and did some maneuvering of the shape to get it like it is in the tutorial. Finally for step 22, I just used the drop shadow plugin.

Edited December 20, 2015 by mackenzieh