Great program. Not worth the 40$ they want for it,l but one of the top freebies on the site for a long time. Makes neat buttons

Hi,

I repeate the same question again guys. In most of the installable programs given by give away, you will receive the product key in the end. Just in case, you had to reinstall the thing and you wont get stuck, end up buying the real one. In this program, the software got activated for sure. but hte acitvation works only on that day right. What happens, if I have to reinstall after a os reinstallation. What I find in the program files, is some dlls and some setup files. It may not be enough for installation. Or that is all that is required in the case of this program. I mean Button shop 3. Or do they have our machine Ip address and so we wont be having an issue while future reinstallations.

Hope you guys are getting what I meant.

digish

Looks like a good program. The buttons come out nice.
They said it was the full blown program but I could not find the
Menu Maker which I did want to see how it work.
I have no reason for a web site but I think this would be a nice way to start.

Delightful, very easy to use program for making attractive, glassy (or otherwise) buttons.

While there may be better available, the ones I have done trials on are too much bother trying to figure out how to get the wanted effects. I just hit uninstall and go on waiting, using an online button generator in the meantime for immediate needs. Now the wait is over.

This one will give me nearly everything needed for my website, and the capability of producing the desired button in about 40 seconds if knowing what I want, less than 5 minutes if needing to play around a little to view subtle effects options.

Instantly adjust:

1. Font size
2. Font color
3. Button size
4. Button background color
5. Gradient effect, color to color and side to side
6. Shadows
7. Mirror image of button
8. Radius of corners (from oval to rectangle)

My main beef so far is the Button Shop folder added to the My Documents file. I have found no way to modify where it can be placed.

As for those who say buttons are outdated, well isn't that merely one of the poor choices of modern designers? I guess we could rightfully say that men's shorts that don't go down below your kneeds are outdated too, along with shirts that aren't so baggy as to have room for two men inside. But being in fashion hardly means the modern stuff is in any way sensible or attractive. Remeber when beige computers were the only thing offered? And since then, you can have block and silver or silver and black. Blech! Whoever sets the trends for us should retire.


#18

Yes, you can edit the pulsing. Just requires tabbing on the links above, which changes the options available.

Background color of the drawing area can also be changed by selecting from one of six ready-made packages. Strangely, they are on the Help page.

Thanks GAOTD. Installed and activated fine on my home machines XP SP3, Vista 32 bit and Vista 64 bit without any issues :)

Solutions to, or explanation for, three more of Ashraf's problems:

* There is no way to start with a new completely blank button.

Sure there is: first, start with any of the templates at all;
next, remove the text and set the color to white or pale gray;
finally, save as a custom template.

* You can only generate HTML code after you have saved the button as an image.

The HTML code needs to mention the button's file name, and that is not available -- not even known -- until it is saved as an image.

* No way to edit how the button ‘pulses’ (animation).

Sure there is: just as with the background color, you can change that in Options.

Cheers, -- tlvp

Ashraf opined, "Default drawing area background color is a bad choice."

Well, change it, in Options -- that's what Options is there for :-) .

My take: for buttons of these sizes and shapes, with whatever text and/or graphics you care to decorate them with, this li'l proggy fills the bill quite nicely.

Registers easily (just run Setup -- as Admin, perhaps, in Vista), runs smoothly (again, as Admin recommended in Vista), saves both "as Template" or "as File" or both (well, you have to do both saves).

Installation writes a .log file in the program folder, lets you see just what actions setup took, including registry writes. Such documentation is a nice touch -- thanks!

I never vote, but if I did: definitely Thumbs Up!

-- tlvp

I am a bit tired of these snide comments re buttons and websites today [#55 et al} Who the hell are you to dictate what YOU think is correct or appropriate? Such narrow minds belong on a childs train set railway lines. Get a life.
As for this prog, it installed quickly and simply on win 2003 ent and was up and running in a few moments. Is a little limited maybe, but still is quicker than doing by hand.
There was a comment the pulse can't be adjusted, it can, but the directions are not so easy to find. Right click on buton being constructed prior to coding, it is among the options there I think.
Thanks GAOTD, thumbs up, I will keep it in my tool box as a quick back up.

Click the author webpage above - You'll notice that they don't even use these buttons on their own website.

'nuff said.

Requires .Net

After reading Mike's comments (#41), I took another look at the developer's site, and not only did they use buttons for the horizontal menu at the top of the page but they also have Download and Buy Now! buttons. By the reflection effect that I see, it is evident that they used Button Shop 3 to create the Button Shop star logo on the left side of the page.

Earlier today (#10), I complained about the lack of an undo feature. As I read the version history page I saw that they added Undo and Redo to version 4.0.

With the list of improvements for 4.0 being so long (and the current version already at 4.02), I have to wonder why we're being offered 3.06. If we're going to be offered an old version, why not 4.0? The value of our comments is diminished by the fact that most of our observations have already been addressed by the developer.

And for those commentators who need to preach about buttons being outdated Web design elements, I assume you don't see the submit comment BUTTON that's just below the www.giveawayoftheday.com comment box. What's more, here I quote one of the features added to version 4.0 of Button Shop that makes it easier to use your buttons on modern Web sites: Added a Menu Maker, you can now easily create CSS HTML menus using buttons in your project.

actually alot of sites use buttons still.. it loads faster than many flash/php,etc.. site (if u make it html) you can make the button then import it and make a flash menu out of them or even use them when programming to make custom buttons on your application...

so don't knock it until u know what all u can use the stuff for ;)

This is great software, good for website buttons but i use it for making Autoplay Media Studio 7 buttons.

Cool ! This product is worth downloading, installs quickly and easily on Vista and very user friendly !

This program is really neat! I have a homepage but it's really kind of drab. I can't afford PhotoShop but with this program I can give my site that element that gets it to stand out. Good Work GAOTD!!!

@To #44 AshRaf You didn't answer ANY of #32 the Renegade questions and I'd like to know your reasoning for saying that "Default drawing area background color is a bad choice." Where did that come from? What color should it have been for your liking? Then your comment about "There is no way to start with a new completely blank button" How would that make it better and under what conditions would that had been a benefit?

Conclusion: "This web site has a forum and I know how to use it. Do You?

Hello, 1995 called and wants its website design elements back....

Seriously, who uses BUTTONS in website design today?

This is one of the best freebies GAOTD has offered. Thank you!

To make sure it is registered, go into Help then About Button Shop.

why would you want Mac style butttons ? buy a Mac

I just had to comment on this one.

@21.....I don't mean to be rude, but.....

That's absolutely false. Obviously you are not aware that program installations not only place files in directories, but also make entries elsewhere.

Also, some install put files not only in the C:\Program Files folder, but other folders as well. If you don't have all these files and the "entries" that were created during install, there is no way the program will work as a registered version.

You're probably violating GOAD's policy also. As it states, the download is available for one day and one day only.

Look at the nice buttons I made. I like this program.

To Complaining thing #17
The first time you open the program it says it is a 30 day trial, when you open a second time it will say FULL VERSION. You don't need a registration code.

COOLTEXT is cool!!


http://cooltext.com/


Great finding, Giovanni!!

#45 goku127
Yes this version is 3.06 also.

I installed Button Shop 3.06 that last time it was given away on this site. Is this the same version?

#32
I always elaborate on "The Bad" I list when I write my review. You must have not read it to be asking me those questions. I refer you to that for your answers.

Excellent program, very use full for web design and even for tutorials, thanks GAOTD

I have spent the last 15-20 minutes playing with this program and it is quite good. There are many options for creating your buttons such as setting transparency, changing the size of the corners, textures, fonts, etc. And if you don't like their backgrounds you can import your own, even allows for an icon to be imported. Another small feature I like is that it gives a preview of the fonts and if you decide to change will continue from where you left off, no need to scroll all the way down again. It appears to do exactly what it advertises - makes easy customizable buttons. I can see using this in webpages, but also to personalize slideshows and other multimedia projects.

Only con I found was no undo. I even looked in the help files to see if I missed finding it. I will save what I like as a template in the future as I just lost one that I liked looking at a different design. Remember - always save what you like as a template so you can come back and edit.

I can let the no undo go though- great little program. Thanks GAOTD, a thumbs up from me.

Nice program -- too bad as others have commented it's several years too late... Even the home page of the developer's (Kristanix) web site follows current design, & is buttonless. ;?P

That said, there can be a real use for this if you design DVDs or any sort of interactive content (Powerpoint?) where often buttons can work quite well.

I get an application error when I exit the program with Windows XP and SP3:
"The exception unknown software exception (0xc0020001) occurred in the application at location 0x7c812aeb."
The screen then goes blank, the program stops responding and must be manually aborted. Nobody else appears to have a problem like this, so it is probably something on my PC. But I thought I'd mention it anyway.

I have owned this program since the last giveaway back in May. In August I reformatted my comp (I run Vista Premium 64) and lost the program....However I found this software SO USEFUL and EASY TO USE that I bought it and Kristanix upgraded me to ButtonShop 4 at no extra charge! Bottom line with this software is that you can truely make just about any style button you need, including javascript rollover images. I HIGHLY recommend ButtonShop to anyone who creates websites and would like to easily create beautiful navigation for their pages.
TY GAOTD!

Easy Easy Easy to use. If you are a newbi at websites like me you will love it.

I will pass on this offering as I do not run a web site and I have no need to make buttons. I do appreciate that GAOTD attempts to appeal to all users and offers programs that are useful to every type of user. They don't just merely run repeats. This may not appeal to me but I will be back tomorrow. Thank you GAOTD team.

This is a wonderful, visually exciting program...and extremely easy to use. I downloaded it when offered last time and use it in conjunction with images I placed in another GAOTD program to produce slideshows of the kids. They love seeing a button with their names on it when pics are coming of them.

Thanks, Kristanix and GAOTD!

Very nice program. Works like a dream! Installed easy on XP and it's quite useful.

LOVE this one. Its very easy to use, lots of customization options, and a heck of a lot quicker than creating a button from scratch in my regular graphics program.

Thanks GAOTD and ButtonShop!

Downloaded this program a while back when they had it on here. It is GREAT and makes some really COOL buttons! Get it today! Well worth the download.

When creating a personal web page people concentrate on layout. Where to place modules, what text font use along with selecting colors and textures. All done to express ones individually and give themselves bragging rights; “Yea I did that, pretty cool eh?” However, those design elements are finite. There are only so many modules, text fonts, colors, textures, etc a person can use.

The intent of this program is to assist a user in getting the attention of visitors to their site. As the saying goes success lies in the details, and its details this program addresses. Those supple design changes can make a person look and say, “there’s something different about this web site”. And that’s all you need to keep that someone interested and really looking at the content instead of glancing over it. I’ve used this program, it’s a great tool, and it’s easy to use, but for what it does, the price point is too high to justify a purchase. If it was lower I would seriously consider buying it, but it’s still the same as the last time GAOTD put it up.

@ #18 Ashraf is of the opinion that these things are bad. I disagree:

- You said, “Default drawing area background color is a bad choice”
What color should they have used instead of gray, a neutral color? And what criteria would you use to make that design decision?

- You said, “You can only generate HTML code after you have saved the button as an image”
I don’t understand why that’s bad, could you elaborate? After you save it a person could then export that image to a photo editor and snazzy them up even more (i.e., Photoshop, Gimp, PhotoScape, TNT, etc).

- You said, “There is no way to start with a new completely blank button”
How is that bad considering a user is going to label the button for their needs anyway.

- You said, “No way to edit how the button ‘pulses’ (animation)”
The intent is draw the users focus to that button, not to strobe them into having a seizure.

- You said, “You cannot deviate from the button shapes that are predefined in the program”
I believe that’s why they’re called “predefined.

This is a cool software, easy to use, html code available, make all kinds of buttons you like. Thanks for this great offer!

Buttons !!! I have enough of them on my coat
Thanks GAOTD
i am not in Button Mood

Hi all!!

Pretty decent software which does its job quite well, although the new version (Button Shop 4) is definetely better and more complete.



FREE ALTERNATIVES SIMILAR TO THIS GAOTD:



- LIKNO WEB BUTTON MAKER FREE 1.4

h ttp://likno-web-button-maker-free.likno-software.qarchive.org/

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- TOTAL PIC MENU 1.3

h ttp://total-pic-menu.flash-extensions-net.qarchive.org/

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- ZPAINT (Used best in cooperation with an image editor):

h ttp://www.clickfire.com/zpaint-review/

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But a great way to add customized buttons and icons to your websites is definetely COOLTEXT a free stunning graphics generator for web pages wich allows you to design websites buttons via a rich interactive designer to make impressive logos so as to dramatically enhance the look of your site to attract more visitors without necessarily being a professional web designer.

http://cooltext.com/



Just choose what kind of image you would like to add on your website and then fill out a form and you'll have your own custom image created in a blink of the eye without any hassle or application whatsoever...LOL!

Trust me my friends: it’s the a cool and very easy tool for web designers I’ve ever seen! Best of all it’s FREE...lol!


Another great online resource where you can download over 50 free web tools and javascript generators to help you create web site menus, buttons, mouseover images, website forms, css, color scrollbars, popup windows, HTML and many more, can be found here:

http://www.hypergurl.com/generators/



Alternatively,for those you want to create free banners, buttons or logos for their website without being forced to install any complicated software or tool, there are plenty of FREE ONLINE SERVICES that do this job in a few second times.

Here a full list of the BEST top 15 WEBSITES that do such a service:

h ttp://techcityinc.com/2008/10/top-15-websites-to-create-your-free-bannerbutton-and-logo/

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See also these FREE nice web buttons and icons generators:


h ttp://www.buttongenerator.com/
h ttp://www.hooverwebdesign.com/freebuttons/
h ttp://www.technacular.com/2007/02/12/collection-of-sites-providing-free-web-icons-and-buttons/

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Finally, if want to create a website starting from scratch, you can also add colorful and shining web buttons, mirror reflection buttons, animated buttons and more simply by using some astounishing FREE and professional WEBSITES BUILDERS you can download for free on the web, such as:


1)NetObjects Fusion Essentials

h ttp://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/WEB-Design/Web-Design-related/NetObjects-Fusion-Essentials.shtml

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2)Tandem Server

h ttp://www.download.com/Tandem-Server/3000-10247_4-10704383.html?tag=mncol

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3)Kentico CMS for ASP.NET

h ttp://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/WEB-Design/Web-Design-related/Kentico-CMS-for-ASP-NET.shtml

(remove space at beginning)


Cheers from Italy where it's freezing cold now...LOL!!

Giovanni

This is an absolute must for any web designer. I downloaded and installed it last time it was on GiveawayOfTheDay, and it makes modern-looking button creation much easier than with Photoshop.

Basic users will have buttons for their site in minutes, and advanced users will enjoy tweaking the button fonts, colors, highlights, shadows, corner radaii, etc. Button styles are saved as XML templates so you can make easy edits in the future. In case you are looking for actual examples in a working website, you can see the "Details/Order" and "Add To Cart" buttons on Home Air Treatment. I am also working on a site for a friend this weekend and have Button Shop buttons on Bauble Bliss. Hope these examples show how nicely the buttons integrate into a site.

I can't comment on this offer because I have no use for it! But what I will say is this. "I think this is an app for an extremely limited user base". Not something that should be offered here for just that reason. A poor choice GOTD! The best I can tell about this offer (from a little on line research), is that it's kind of antiquated anyway!

Nice if I ever want a retro look for your site. Activated and installed easily on XP sp3, have not and probably will not try it on Vista.
This is a not a paint program, you will not be able to draw new button shapes or design your own textures. This is a button program with some templates and textures, for those who do not want to use a paint program.
There are more fully featured programs available that don't cost half as much as this one, it may have been better to give us the newest version today and compare that with similar apps, as this one is just not worth the price. It does work, so thumbs up for that.

I can't find it but I thought I saw a comment where someone saved a button as an image then couldn't change it later. In case someone has this problem, save the button as a template first. Then you load the template version of the button and edit that.

I like this program so thumbs up from me!

RE #6.
But you are NOT PAYING for this one

Hi Joe - December 27th, 2008 at 5:33 am..... you asked......
Does anyone know of such a program that would create ornamented buttons ? I`d love to see such a program - it would save me much time.

Well, why not have a look at RealDraw Pro - one of the most underrated drawing progs around. Great at making fancy buttons - or anything else for that matter :-) Also try out the freebies from Serif - try their Serif Draw prog. Hope this helps - Cheers

#15 Digish, To keep this program or any program from givewaway. All you need to do is once you have installed it, go to your C:/program files and open up the open/explore the folder it is installed in. Copy and paste and install on a disk or flash drive. I have down this with my giveaways and once this has been done you can always reinstall that folder with your program again with out having to activate it.Because it already is actived/registered once it is installed on your computer in its folder. Does that make sense to you all. I hope so.

I have this program and if you have any need for buttons on your websites or blogs then this is the program for you.
It does not get much better than this...The variety of buttons is really good.

If you are unsure then have a look at their video...

Click here to view video

http://www.kristanixsoftware.com/buttonshop/tutorial1.php

Such "buttons" used to be very popular more or less 10 years ago. Nowadays nobody use this anymore, it's outdated.