downloaded fine and activated on xp sp3. downloaded the flv from the buttonshop tutorial which no other program I had would do: however, the flv player included today nor any other flv player I have like VLan would not play the video.

I have used various programs since 1976, mostly graphics and I create web sites as a hobby now that I retired from web design as a business.
Your program was well though out and very user friendly out of the box.
I can't wait to see what it grows into in the future, add-ons & image imports would be nice.
I love the keep it simple program design, I had it spitting out buttons and roll over codes without once having to read any documentation as it is a very self-explanatory design.
5 thumbs up!
Thanks for a great program!

Hi all it's me once again... :D

Posted at the begining of the giveaway of Button Shop 4.

Just wanted to add you can always add to the texture folder stuff like the Blender CD.

located at :
http://tellim.com/texture_cd/

Played with it all day and made a amazing layout using multiple button formats for a porfolio..

Best regards to the GAOTD team and Kristanix Software.

The last time Button Shop was offered here I swear it had were you could make flashing buttons but I cannot find it on this version, has anyone found it on this version?

Read the very first comment - from the developer!

"Also, you can use the buttons for commercial use, so you don’t have to worry about that :)

Cheers!"

Great piece of software. Thanks GOTD!

# 53 and myself # 62 download NET from this companies web site. Kristanixsoftware.com go to SUPPORT then Button Shop then Systems Requirements. They provided the Net update for 2.0 link there. I installed on XP service pack 2 and it finally installed Button shop.

Installed, but I had to wait for over am minute for GAOTD to connect. After that, no problems. Jumped right in and had a new pulsating button created within 3 minutes(and that's counting over a minute waiting for install to complete). To me, that is amazing! I know I will be spending a lot more time in the future - learning how to get the most from this tool. I am happy with this software. The only thing I can think of RIGHT THIS MOMENT that would be cool is...(Currently all variables like the Width and Height adjustment points are easy to change by typing, rolling your mouse wheel or clicking the up/down buttons. I like being able to also left click and hold the mouse button to update the variable by sliding my mouse up/down or left/right to raise and lower the variable in a more dynamic/fluid motion.) Hope this helps! Thank yoU!

I keep getting "error launching installer" with Windows XP Pro sp3, in case I'm not the only one (I don't have time to read 73 comments now). I'm running Norton Internet Security on this computer if that helps. Other than that there's not much I see that should cause any problem. Gotta go, but I'll try to check back later in case you're now posting comments this late in the day (night), as if that's going to happen! Guess I'll just have to make do with the free alternative buttons.

Not sure I have the right version here, though the "Help" says registered as Full program. I can only make one button, the first Blue one, and no others. Says to install button templates and Icon Templates too. I dont see these on the webite, and they are not in program files, just links to buy the program.

I'll give this a try. I already own and use File Renamer Turbo from Kristanix, and I've found it to be a very useful bit of software that does exactly what it's supposed to do. Also, whenever I've had questions and emailed Kristanix, I've gotten a prompt and personal response. I appreciate that in a company.

thanks GAOTD for this software.
& thanks for the tip of AVIRA problem, little frustating on first.

strange last statement on eula although:
"You are not allowed to sell the button images created using Button Shop in any way, or include them in a similar program. "

"any way" : what if i build a website on wordpress for a customer. is this in the "any way" category? or is just the buttons "alone"

Ouch, Ouch. Great anticipation, registered and installed fine, but when you go to open it: "Sorry, Button Shop has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

Anyone else experiencing this on XP 3?
Will try it on other XP's and Vista, hoping someone might have a resolution.
(Even so, thank you GOTD - and where the hell is Ashraf? Didn't he get a day off last year?)

It installs fine
it says it activated

then when you click on register it wants the registration key

I thought it was registered already
>? what gives

it wants the registration key to activate the full version from the trial version

so this is the trial version? I thought this was the 40 dollar version, very confusing and a bit borderline irritating

not bad..get it if you webmaster your website. I don't know what else can one use it for.
basic but comes handy when you don't have time for Adobe suite.
Templates are limited but I wouldn't complain. I created a few buttons in no time.

#72 worked for me. Now installing!

I'm Win 7,64 bit home edition,w/ Avast-free edition,downloaded and installed fine. This program is causing for a more complete security program to in fact "cause" a false positive. Happens all the time. Check your firewall settings and adjust from there.
Otherwise, Buttons works very smoothly, I think it's a keeper!

Downloaded & installed on my PC (HP Pavilion a705W/2.93GHz Intel Celeron/ 2 GB RAM/ XP Pro SP3) with no pblms. I'm delighted with this give-away!!! It gives me another 'TOOL' that I can use on my Excel 2007 spreadsheets. I've been looking for something that I could use to add to my spreadsheets & graphs to make them more appealing ('Noticable') and it looks like I may have found it. So far, so good. THANKS!!!

I was somewhat sceptical given the mix of +'s and -'s. Installed it. It is actually quite nice. It is a polished program with a nice interface. Personally, I don't like ribbon bars, but other than that, there are a lot of features and flexibility. The output quality is very high.

There are also HTML tools that help generate the relevant code for mouse-over, and for building menu's. Real time saver if you want to use the buttons in your own coded website. Recommended

>> Some people have asked about how to make text free buttons... and give complicated methods on how to do this. My answer? Why not just go to the text entry area and TYPE SPACES! Worked for me! Text free buttons.

>> Some people mentioned about false positives with their AV. I'm not so sure about this. After installing I had some unrequested website with toolbars appearing. So somewhere there IS a problem with either Buttons, or with GOTD Activate.

If you get a “program failed to initialize” error when you try to run it, then you may need to download Microsoft.NET framework. Needs vs 2.0.
I had the same problem. Downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en installed it and Button Shop
started ok. Hope this helps

This is an excellent little programme. Simple to install in Windows 7 and does exactly what it says it does! It is very intuitive to use and creates fantastic buttons in a few seconds. I have spent hours searching for particular buttons on the internet and now I can easily make my own.

Thank you GiveAwayOfTheDay and Kristanix.

A word of caution! I closed down the Button Template Group window and couldn't reinstate it. I had to email Kristanix support to solve this issue.

Kristanix support responded very quickly with a simple answer - I had to delete the docklayout.xml in My Documents.

Very impressed with the support service too. Thank you again!

I've not had much of a chance to crawl all over v4 yet, but if it's half as good as v3 I'll be a very happy man. :)

A note to the dev: just spotted this typo on your Kristanix products page, where ImageBadger is described thus, "Enhance you photos in a few clicks".

Now it's playtime!

Finally sussed it. Right-click the Avira icon in the Notification Area and clear the check mark beside AntiVir Guard Enable. Then the install worked. After, re-enable AntiVir Guard.

Looks interesting but refuses to install for me. :(

I'm guessing the AntiVirus is blocking it. Can't seem to find a way to turn off AntiVirus temporarily. Avira...

#33: "I am mostly interested in icon-only buttons... I’d love to be able to make buttons that looks as nice as the image on their icon button"

If it helps, Button Shop has several included templates with a 3D look to them that you can customize & add text to. Working that way you have the benefits of a lightweight app that's quick & easy to use. On the downside you're [mostly] limited to those templates because there are no drawing tools to add lighting & depth, & it isn't a 3D app that can calculate lighting & reflections. You can use one of the included icon images [templates] rather than a button template...

If you double click an icon in the browser (on the right side of the program window), it'll appear at the start (on the left) of any text, overlaid on the button template/image. If you check the box "Use Image Button", you get the same thing but there's no underlying button template/image. If where you checked that box you browse to an included icon image/template, that will be used as your button template, but stretched to fit any text -- you can re-size it if you have the "Autosize" box un-checked. Using an image this way however, most of the customizations are turned off.

* * *

#51: "As I understand it, this software is only useful for those maintaining a website, correct?"

It's for creating images of buttons &/or icons -- where you use them is up to you. Icons can be used for files/folders in Windows' Explorer, on your desktop etc. Button images can be used for web pages, in documents, for things like DVD menus, & so on & so on... Creating an image for a button from scratch can be a bit of work in most graphics or image editing or 3D apps -- software like Button Shop makes it easier.

* * *

#53: "... I cannot install because I need to update Microsoft.net but when I click ok to download update it says can’t find host. Went to Microsoft.com but can’t find where to download update. I have XP service pack 2..."

Don't know if that's a connection problem, a problem with Microsoft's site, or if it's because Microsoft says this: "Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010. If you are running Windows XP SP2 after support ends, you will not receive security updates for Windows. To keep your Windows XP computer up-to-date download Service Pack 3 through Windows update now.". You may need to update to SP3 before update will work properly. You can also download .NET setup files from Microsoft's Download Center [ http://goo.gl/D8NrD ], though if update isn't working for you it would be harder to make sure you got needed .NET security updates.

Hi All, a couple of us on the Dutch GOTD site had activation problems as well (activation window remained stuck on the screen and wouldn't disappear).
I managed to activate it after all by turning my computer off and back on (obviously :-) then switching off my Avira Antivirus guard, then I started the setup from Explorer, making sure not to start any other program, after which the program activated and installed OK
Regards, Lieve

Button Shop is a nice app that, if it matters to you uses .NET. It can take a little bit of exploring to figure out what you can & can't do, but based on templates it's quick & easy once you figure out what settings do what. While the buttons you make may look 3D, Button Shop is not a more involved [& maybe harder to learn/use] 3D app -- you can't set anything having to do with surfaces or reflections, & lighting is limited to turning set 2D effects on/off. And while you can customize the button shapes provided, you can't create new ones. I don't think that will matter to most people, but not being able to set text fill & outline separately may disappoint you -- turning outline on only turns the text into an outline, with fill provided by the background or shadow color [if/when shadow's turned on]. Button Shop will let you create sets of buttons that you can save as a template as well as images, it has a built-in Menu Maker ["Create a HTML menu out of the buttons..."], & it will save a Pulse effect as a set of images or an animated GIF -- clicking the "Pulsing Preview" button on the Effects tab turns this effects preview on/off so you can see what it looks like. Button Shop can also save files in the Icon format [.ico], but it doesn't automatically add or include versions in different sizes or bit depths -- to do that you'll probably work with the icon further in something like IcoFX.

To use Button Shop you start by selecting a template, enter your text, set the font, then customize the sizes & colors of: text, shadows, reflective highlight ["Gloss Style"], lighting ["Light Effect"], button "Glow", inner & outer button outlines ["Inner" & "Outer Strokes"], & background. Note the Background effects the pixels around the edge of the button, to better match a destination web page when the button doesn't use transparency. Also note that you can use an image [the app calls it "Texture"] rather than a button &/or background color, or you can replace the button in a template with an image, though that turns off most custom settings.

Button Shop installation or setup is nice -- you get the program's folder [13 files taking up ~ 10 MB], & a folder under My Documents with all of the included templates [1,147 files, 31 folders, ~7 MB]... win7 also got a folder under User\ App Data \ Roaming. In the registry you get an uninstall key. If like me you don't like all the templates in a folder under My Documents [IMHO My Docs tends to be cluttered enough already], move it wherever you like, then change the template folder location in Button Shop's Options dialog -- putting the templates in the program's folder should in effect make Button Shop portable, or as portable as any .NET app can be anyway.

This is a great piece of software. I had it on my old laptop and I was very excited to see it offered today so I can put it on my new one as well.

This is one of the few programs I have downloaded that I continued to find uses for day after day.

Thank you for offering it again!

I did not uninstall v3.06 before installing this version (4.24). The new version installs into a "Button Shop 4" folder, while the older version remains in its "Button Shop" folder. Both can still be run, if that's your choice.

Activation hangs during install and just sits there. WinXP Pro SP3. Unable to install after several attempts.

Thank you very kindly. I scanned your software before I extracted it & it passed with flying colours! Extremely easy to download & open. After I downloaded the program, I found that you had an abundance of support. That in itself is a BONUS. I'm looking forward to playing with your program & getting used to it; after looking at the tutorial it looks extremely "user friendly". Right up my alley! Thank you once again. Windows XP sp3. Megs2010.

If it is pre-registered, does that mean that I can reinstall it if I have to reinstall Windows or buy a new computer?

HELP please...I cannot install because I need to update Microsoft.net but when I click ok to download update it says can't find host. Went to Microsoft.com but can't find where to download update. I have XP service pack 2. Can someone help me locate the net update so I can install today's offered program. Thank you in advance...Cindi

Button shop is a fantastic program that allows a person to make awesome looking website buttons in very little time.

Seeing this program being offered and seeing the authors comments made my whole day. Thank you!

Win 7 HP x64

Cannot install. Installer hangs on compatibilty. as in comment number 1. I have Avira Pro and I disabled it and still the same thing. What gives please?

Very impressive! For veterans or newbies alike. I'd rate this giveaway pretty highly, since I do design such things using many other methods. Be it for Web Sites, Software Button Controls, or just Icons and Graphics.

Its very easy to create something from the available templates, with existing colors and gradients and shapes, just by a few clicks. But...

Much further exploration reveals that there's very little you cannot do with this program, where buttons are concerned, including create your own templates from scratch for later uses of all kinds, and with extensive control over your designs. This can include a great many effects, shades, shadows, reflections, pictures, directional effects, etc. The potential is almost endless. If there is something else like this available, I have yet to run across it. And I certainly have looked.

Kudos to the vendor Kristanix for this program, and thanks also to GAOTD! This is one of the better downloads I have seen in quite a while.

Highly recommended indeed! At least judging by the early stages of test. There is a bit of a learning curve for the more advanced levels of usage. But not bad. Thumbs Up!

It also registers fast, simple, without incident on XP SP3, and is malware-free. (Checked several ways, due to a previous warning).

-JC : )

I know I am late putting in comments and you may have already figured this out on your own but in regards to...
#15 Peter James, as #24 suggested You can save your work as a template and place it under the group you want. You can also use the group manager to create your own groups.

#s 21 Lars and 32 rmg, to have Icon only button,

1) On the button tab... Remove text from text box. and under the color/texture options set the type to color, start to transparent and end to transparent.

2) on the effects tab...Make sure the show box in the "light effects, mirror effects, glow, inner stroke and outer stroke options are all unchecked.

3) on the background tab... under the color/texture options set the type to color, start to transparent and end to transparent.

Assuming you have no shadow, animation or other effects on This will leave you with only the Icon showing.

I hope this helps. I have been designing buttons for many years using Photoshop and other graphics software and this is a very easy to use but powerful tool if you take the time to fully test it I am sure you will agree. It is very well laid out and I thank you Kristanix and GOTD. You have made my job much easier.

Tested it out. May be good for novice website designers who can't play around with Photoshop. Not recommended.

Great product! but Free online great alternative: http://cooltext.com/

While installing on Win7Pro x64, the "Program Compatibility Assistant" in Win7 popped up and thought the program didn't install correctly, but it did install correctly and ran with no issue.

NICE user interface. Very intuitive, was up and running immediately. Good selection of templates, although I would like to be able to create my own button shapes and import my own icons and textures. Nevertheless, this is a keeper.

To those complaining about lack of selections for button templates, oh my goodness! Look through the menu options! In the right pane, you can select from a menu to change libraries of buttons and select icons. In the effects tab, you can change colors on buttons. There are thousands of combinations.

As I understand it, this software is only useful for those maintaining a website, correct? i.e., it has no benefit for a PC.

UPdate to my previous problem.
My comment was incorrect about saving templates.
It does allow it.
Additionally it allows me to copy and paste text in other languages.
I asked a question and they responded in good time.
Overall excellent
Thanks Kristanix and GOTD

It is a very nice programme. I am usually very caucious with installing softwares. This is a very nice one. You can even creat HTML codes to paste to your websites. Very nice indeed.

I had a little time to work with the software and I like it. Thankx!
Not only do you have the buttons and icons listed but my supply of graphic buttons and icons I can import into this software and really utilize. Thankx again
Coty

I like it - simple, easy to use, does what it says on the tin - buttons.

Thanks GAOTD

Meaning of "Personal Use". Under support, license information on their website: "The Personal License is for home-use only, buttons created can be used in a commercial setting. For home use, one license can be used freely within one house hold."

Thus, is appears you can use this for commercial use, as long as you're not creating them in a commercial environment.

The Business license states, "Business License: With the Business License you can use Button Shop in a Company or Organization, and use the buttons created in a commercial setting. One Business License grants you the right to install Button Shop on three computers at the same time."

jane (#26). Thanks! Exporting (not saving!) with choosing "Export pulsing image as..." really make a job. But the resulting image is of pour quality...

just okey software. I wanted to make pulsing only when mouse is over on it. It makes pulsing in normal. That sucks!!
Better to use CSS MENU!!

@ #32 (rmg):
Thanks for the tip. :)
----------
This is a nice program — and it allows you to import graphical elements from external sources. [Sample output]

I have used Button Shop for years and it does a lot more than buttons. You can make some fantastic banners and headers. You can add your own Icons to be used as long as you follow the Icon directory structure and do not exceed a size of 256 by 256 for any Icons.

This will also allow some great mouseover menus to be made using Stu Nichols CSS menu Guidelines. There is so much more to this than meets the eye. You just have to use it and let your imagination run wild.

Installs just fine in Vista using the usual "Run as Administrator" selection. No problems with Registration.

When I first Tried this software this morning Avira grabbed a Trojan, Which was a false positive. So I came back later and tried again... clean. Was I glad about that. this software is so easy to use.lots of choices to choose from when making a button. and you can even turn your buttons in to a menu! I have used others before but there is a lot of work just to get the finished product on line.This ..you just save when your done and upload to the page you want to place it on.This software will come in handy for my wife's blog she is creating.She has no Idea how to use Linko, and I really do not have the time to explain it to her so this she can do her self and learn at the same time.

After exploring the software and its features,I think I may purchase
the commercial version.

Ashraf did do a review on version 3 @ http://dottech.org/miscellaneous/1766
but not this version. he has to sleep sometime. ;)

Thank You Kristanix Software and GOTD, This is one of the better software you have given us. Kristanix software has a lot of examples on their site @ http://www.kristanixsoftware.com/buttonshop/example-buttons.php
Time to get back to work
Thanks again GOTD & Kristanix software
5 star rating from me.