Basic Application to create .psd buttons for Authoring?

[Moontrash]

i was wondering if there are any sort of basic apps out there that will let you create your own .psd buttons.I'm not a photoshop afficianado due to it's complexity so any apps that are simple or maybe even a guide would help.I would like to author a dvd of my own with some custom .psd's and don't like the basic options there are in tsunami or other authoring applications

thanx

monntrash

[Cornucopia]

Photoshop is proprietary to Adobe. ".psd" (and .psb) are their proprietary formats. It's a closed format that they've never explained to anyone.
Some have reverse-engineered it to accept SOME more basic forms of PSD, but not much of the recent advances are compatible (you're lucky if you get layers and alpha channel support).

Go to ebay and get a copy of Photoshop (versions back to ~5 are still quite usable). You'll be glad you did.

Scott

[Moontrash]

thanx Cornucopia....i wondered why i could find no small apps that did button creation for dvd menus...it always came back to photoshop...are there any other formats that are accepted besides .psd for menu buttons?

i think i may have a version 5 from 4/5 years ago in my old apps binder...i think i'll take a quick look

moontrash

[tinker]

You may want to check out DVD Menu Studio from Mediachence. That one will create any button you like.
Also for DVD authoring there is a DVD Lab. That will let you to create your own menus with motion or a picture of your own creation.

[TimA-C]

I think Tsunami (TMPGenc) has their own photo editing package that can be used to make custom buttons and frames. Don't know if it's any good.

[Moontrash]

thanx for the responses...i have tsunami...i'll comb through it and see if i can't figure out a creation of custom buttons....dvd menu studio i'm gonna look into shortly and see what it has to offer

[CheeseSteak]

I think GIMP will import and export PSD files. It supports alpha channel and layers too and it's free. I used it a long time ago so I don't know how good the current version is.

[fatbloke88]

RealDraw Pro is fairly cheap alternative for making buttons

[Moontrash]

cool...these are great...thanks for more options

[racer-x]

Paint.net (free), save as PNG with transparent background. Most Authoring apps will except PNG for buttons.

Gimpshop is a free Photoshop like image editor. it will let you save to PSD among others.

[lordsmurf]

Use Photoshop. All others are poor imitations.

[MJPollard]

Will Photoshop Elements do the trick, for those whose needs are modest and don't justify the high price of the full-blown Photoshop? Is Elements good enough for the job of backgrounds and buttons for DVD menus? Are there any limitations in Elements that would make it a poor option for this kind of "light duty" work?

[racer-x]

Elements will easily do the job and much, much more. The latest version of Photshop Element 5.0 is outstanding. You'd be hard pressed to find anything it can't do that Photoshop can. That's assuming you know what you're doing. I consider myself a Photoshop power user (been using it since version 6) and am impressed with Elements 5.0. You can buy elements 5.0 for less than $70 US, it's a great buy.