Of all the buttons
we are called on to create, none are more fun to make than photo
buttons that are going to be used for a special occasion.
Whether they're
for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, newborn babies, weddings,
or whatever... when you create a photo button that is going to
be used for a special occasion, you know you will be creating
something that will be forever treasured.
Making photo buttons
that include text are actually quite easy to do... once you have
the equipment and know how to do them.
What I hope to do
here is show you how to do them, step by step, and explain what
equipment you need to be able to do them.
If you are already
making buttons, chances are you have most of what you'll need:
A computer, a color printer (inkjet or laser), a color scanner,
a program like Adobe Photoshop or Photo Deluxe (that allows you
to manipulate the photo you wish to work with) and a program
that allows you to create curved text and import the photo you're
working with once you're finished working with it.
Of course you will
also need a machine with which to make your photo buttons. You
can make photo buttons in a 2-1/4" size, but I think most
people would agree that they are much better when done in the
3" size.
(If you don't yet
own a 3" button machine, I highly recommend our Model
300 SX . It's an outstanding button machine and works equally
well with both paper you print through an inkjet or laser printer,
and with photographic prints that you would get from a photo
lab.
And that's one of
the Model 300 SX strengths. Most other button machines (Badge-A-Minit
in particular) don't work well with photographic materials because
they cannot generate the crimping power that is necessary to
tuck the thicker paper all the way around the back of the button.
But the Model 300
SX can!
Ok, now, let's get
started.
To begin with, we
will need a photograph to work with.
The one I've chosen
for this demonstration is one that was taken of my office manager,
Ardy, and myself, while we were at a wedding.
The button I plan
to make will let Ardy know that she is the "World's Greatest Office Manager"... which she truly is!
So first, we need
to scan the photograph so we can get it into our computer.
Once you have scanned
your image and saved it to disk, you can then use Photoshop (or
a similar to program) to adjust the quality of the image (color,
brightness, contrast, etc.) and remove any unwanted elements
so you can better focus on your subject.
So to make this
photograph work for its intended purpose, I'm going to remove
myself from the photo.
Here I have used
Photoshop's selection tool and cut out only the part of the photograph
I want to use. But you can still see the edge of my shoulder
on the right of Ardy, as well as my hand on Ardy's shoulder.
Since these are both distractions, I am going to use Photoshop's
eraser tool to remove them.
As the name implies,
Photoshop's eraser tool lets you "wipe away" things
you don't want. So now I am going to take out everything in the
image, except for Ardy.
Now that's more
like it!
When you have the
image you are working with adjusted the way that you want it,
you then need to save it in a computer file format that your
text curving program can import.
Once the image has
been saved, I will now need to open a program to create the curved
text and import my photo of Ardy.
My initial thought
was to use blue colored text for my button, but after trying
it, I felt it overpowered Ardy. So I instead chose a plum color
that I felt better complimented her complexion.
Voila!!
After just a few
minutes, we are ready to print however many photo buttons we
need for the project we are working on.
The thing about
photo buttons, especially the ones that include text, is that
people love them!
And they're willing
to pay good money for them, too!
In most instances
you will create a single original design and then print out 25,
50, or 100 copies of that design (whatever your customer has
ordered) and then make that many buttons.
Simple, but profitable...
which is exactly what those of us who make buttons love to do!
I'm sure that there
are a number of you who may want to be able to provide your customers
with photo buttons, but you may not yet have the equipment to
do your own. If you ever find yourself in this situation, don't
worry. We'll be happy to help you out. You can simply send us
the photograph (we'll return it undamaged) we'll make the photo
buttons for you.
Complete Photo Button Production
(If you are in need of photo buttons with text, but aren't ready
to do them yourself, we will be happy to make the buttons for
you)
For more information on this service, click here.
