Hi i am looking for the best software for creating buttons logos and other images for websites.

The reason i ask here is most software i have used produces low quality and high storage space images i am looking for sharp images and more professional looking in particular i am looking for software with pre inserted image gallery i can pick images from aswell as using my own.

I've only used the demo, but Xara Webstyle was pretty good.

Make buttons by yourself with some of many graphic programs such as Photoshop or Fireworks or something similar. It's the best way to learn and produce Your own buttons for menus.

But if You want to use some of specialized applications for that, try Xara Menu maker, Xara Webstyle, Web Button Maker (MTop), Crystal Button,Agama Web Button,.....

For logos....use Your imagination....find tutorials on net about making logos, badges,blablabla....and soon You'll be expert.

I use adobe photoshop

I use the Gimp. It's here:

http://www.gimp.org/

It's free, and it comes with a lot of scripts, called Script-Fu. I guess in Photoshop the equivalent would be called actions. In any case, I have a bunch of them for button-ifying things. Works well. If you do decide to try Gimp, there are some free scripts here:

http://gug.sunsite.dk/scripts.php

In particular for buttons, try the Aqua pill button script. Also, here are more free plugins:

http://registry.gimp.org/index.jsp

I also use Inkscape. It's also free. It's more like Illustrator than Photoshop. It's not as good as Illustrator, but it is vector-based. Recent improvements have really helped with gradients and curves. It's here:

http://www.inkscape.org/

-Tony

thanks for the help so far i will look into the link posted and test out the softwares

A second vote for Photoshop. It's great for drawing out a layout and slicing it so that it can be used for a website.

Caveat: do not use the ImageReady-generated HTML code. The images are okay, but don't use the code. It's a mess.

A third vote for Photoshop. If you can't pony up the bucks for the full blown PS, Photoshop Elements can do a lot of what PS can for $99. Certainly for the buttons and such.

If you use CSS, 'slicing' a layout isn't necessary, at least not the old 'define slice' method.

I'm a Photoshop user as well. If Photoshop doesn't meet your budget I'd go with The Gimp.

Are you talking CS, LadyNRed? (I only have 7).

Yes, sorry, I use CS. But, even with PS7 I quickly abandoned the slice tool, it got to be a real pain the butt. I think it's more of a personal workflow sort of thing now

I can't remember the last time I used the slice tool. It was probably just to learn how. I've never built a site that way. Been using css since the start.

Same here, I dont slice images anymore. Its ok for image heavy sites but who makes image heavy sites these days? I know I dont!

For your buttons and logos Adobe Fireworks is probaby right for you. I found it easy to start with and get straigt to work.

For design i'd definetally use Dreamweaver ad avoid frontpage This will get you into better habbits and good at web design.

For design i'd definetally use Dreamweaver ad avoid frontpage This will get you into better habbits and good at web design.

Since when has Dr*amw*av*r been about good habits and good web design? :P

Phtoshop is the best!

For layouts, my vote is on Illustrator. Drawing buttons, and icons is also very easy to do.


For pixel editing it's definately photoshop.

I have had alot to look through here Photoshop i think is best but i will have to get used to using it.

One more question on this is does photoshop allow you to create buttons simmilar to the once here on webmaster-talk

You should be able to create the buttons you see on this site in photoshop, thought you can probably also create them in a variety of other programs. Any image editing software is really just a tool and in the end it will come down to your skill using that tool as to what you create with it.

Photoshop can't do everything, for example vector tools aren't as advanced as Illustrator, but it can probably do a little more than most other image editing programs and if you only get one it's probably going to have most of the features you'll really need.

If you're unsure at all most of the programs will have a 30 day trial you can try and see which you like best.

If you ask me..All you need is Illustrator, photoshop and a text editer. No need for any of those fancy softwares.