14 DAY TRIAL // Before the Flash era began, having a website with nice static graphics was (and still is, in a lesser manner) one of the ingredients required for success. Drawing buttons using Photoshop or another specialized program can deliver best results, but require a lot of work and study. Just think about learning to use a big program like Photoshop or The GIMP, searching for the tutorials to help you create the buttons you want and trying to get the best results out of them...
What if you could use a program to help you design buttons the easiest possible way, and still leave enough customization options for you? I know it sounds like a great idea, and that's why I am going to review a program that creates three-dimensional glassy, metallic, plastic and even XP style buttons.
The program's name is Crystal Button and it suits well, since the results it delivers are, in most cases, real gems. I won't keep wasting time and we'll get straight down to the subject - how can we get to the desired results the fastest way?
Of course, first you need to grab the program and install it. I can't see any problem that may occur with that. Next, get to work!
After passing by the splash screen that gives you the chance to order the program, enter your registration key or continue, and you will be taken to the main interface. No textured menus or controls, no futuristic elements to be seen, just a regular Windows program interface. Don't worry. It's not about the box, but the gift we're after!
Let's start a new project. You can't create a button from scratch. Each new project must be based on an existing design. Did I say "existing design"? Yes, that's what I said. Crystal Button is all about button design templates and customizing them. More than just buttons, you can create entire navigation bars using it!
When creating a single button project, you will be able to use enough tools to make what you want of it. The basic elements to be customized are the text, image, texture, light, material and shadow.
The texture applied to your button can have its blending mode changed and you can select it from around twenty ones available. You can also change its origin point in order to make it fit perfectly on your button.
You don't like the way light falls on your buttons? No problem. You are able to apply one or two light sources to your button and adjust their settings.
If metal is not the material you want for your work, you can choose plastic or create a custom one. Unfortunately, there are not too many settings available to show the way with that, but there's a pretty well done Help file at your side to guide you in using what you got.
Most nice buttons have a bit of shadow, best examples are the Windows XP icons, also Crystal Button can help its users with that too. You are able to apply shadow to your button or text and set its color, position and blur amount.
Creating navigation bars is really easy. You have to select a template and then input the text for each of your buttons. They will be exported as a batch and you will have to place them on your site.
Most functions have keyboard shortcuts that enable you to access them the easiest way, making button creation a really fast process and the Help file is just as it should be: small and useful.
Crystal Button can save in six popular image formats, but I don't understand why they included ICO. There are export quality settings ready to be set for PNG, JPG and GIF formats from the Settings window, but I can't comprehend why they have a Language tab there, while the only available option is English.
Let's draw the line now. Crystal Button enables you to create beautiful buttons, because beauty has no age when it comes to visual arts. Unfortunately, software's features are aging each day when compared to its competitors, and that is this program's main disadvantage. Other than that, everything's fine, so, if you have some minutes to spare, enjoy it!
The Good
There are a lot of options to play with inside Crystal Button and enough templates to choose from. The ability to create navigation bars is also a positive thing.
The Bad
The program is a bit outdated and worst things are that it doesn't support Flash at all, and saving graphics formats are extremely limited. Also, its price is high for what it offers at this moment.
The Truth
Crystal Button was a great program six years ago. It still is a great program, but when you think about its price and the missing features, the conclusion is that you can get other good and up-to-date programs for thirty dollars. Don't get me wrong, download its trial version and have fun with it! I am sure you will!
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
