buttons programs or pages

[JQ Johnson]

>I have always just downloaded buttons I liked from other sites, then
>changed them using PaintShop or Lviewpro to the way I want them to look.

Note that if a button image is *really* neat, then its author will probably
want to assert his or her copyright on the image, which would make this
problematic (creating a derivative work is one of the rights granted by
copyright to the author).  It's usually a good practice to ask before
copying or modifying an image found on the web, unless the context includes
explicit permission to use and modify the images.

>Is there any small freeware or shareware ...

For buttons specifically, there are a number of good Photoshop plugins (that
also work in other programs that support that interface, e.g. ColorIt! on
the Mac) that make building buttons easy.  I've used the free WildRiverSSK
DekoBoko quite a bit.  However, although the plugin is free, the base app
isn't.  I don't know of any adequate freeware; low cost programs like
PaintShop Pro, GraphicConverter, or ColorIt! seem to be the best approach if
you aren't going to be using them heavily enough to justify the investment
in a high-end tool.

Take a look at the Lynda Weinman books for specific button-making techniques
that are applicable to the web.

JQ Johnson                      Office: 115F Knight Library
Academic Education Coordinator  E-mail: jqj at darkwing.uoregon.edu
1299 University of Oregon       voice: 1-541-346-1746
Eugene, OR  97403-1299          fax: 1-541-346-3485