DeKnop 3.5.1

Some of its nicer features include the ability to make an entire set of buttons in just a few seconds more than it takes to make a single button, the ability to use textures for both buttons and text, and the ability to save buttons in the primary file formats for use on the Internet.

Users get a lot for their money (it is free). Here is the way the button making process goes:

• Step 1: Determine the desired button height and width, then set the border width, color, and bevel amount. The program enables the user to determine the bevels' upper and lower color. Other touches added to the border include whether the button is up, down, flat, glossy up, or glossy down, and the amount of color intensity.
• Step 2: This is where choices are made regarding the color used on the button itself, as well as the text colors. Users select the front, background, and canvas colors for the button. Other choices include bevel colors, whether or not a gradient is to be used for the text and, if so, which colors are to be used. Text shadow colors are also chosen here as is the transparency of the button.
• Step 3: This is where users enter the text they wish to appear on the entire set of buttons, listing them in the desired order in the text insertion box. Margins and alignments can also be chosen here.
• Step 4: In this step the user selects the font to be used, along with its size, decoration, 3D style, shadow, and the positioning for the shadow. DeKnop can use any of the fonts on the user's system.
• Step 5: Here the user can apply gradient fills to either the buttons or the text. Users can apply seven different types of gradient fills to buttons and three types to text.
• Step 6: Users can apply textures to buttons, either tiling, stretching, or using exact positioning. Bevel intensity can also be altered, and texture can be chosen to use on the text, if so desired.
• Step 7: This section is for what the program calls Neobook buttons, essentially three-phase buttons in which the user can determine appearance in normal, pressed, or released position.
• Step 8: This is the final step, and here is where the user can save their project in the program's native .BTN format or in either .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG format. Additionally, the user can determine the amount of compression they wish to have applied.

At any time, buttons along the bottom of the main interface enable the user to determine alignment, font decoration, and some beveling effects.

This is a good program for non-graphics types who need to make good looking buttons without having to invest in an expensive graphics program.

The only real shortcoming the program has is that it does not allow users to apply hyperlinks to the buttons during the creation process.

What is it called again? DeKnop 3.5.1 (DeKnop is Dutch for "The Button")

Where can I get it? http://home.hccnet.nl/s.j.francke/deknop/deknop.htm

How much does it cost? This is freeware.

How big is the download? 661 KB

Do I recommend it? Yes, but I would like to see future versions allow hyperlinks to be assigned while the buttons are being created.