TechnoMono

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to make this cool little button in GIMP:

Make a new image document (mine is 300×200). Create a new layer (Layer > New Layer) called ‘drop-shadow’, make a circular selection (E for ellipse tool) on the left side of the canvas (making sure to hold SHIFT to make a perfectly round selection); then fill with black (SHIFT+B).

Duplicate the ‘drop-shadow’ layer (Layer > Duplicate Layer). Go Layer > Transform > Flip Horizontally, then merge the ‘drop-shadow copy’ layer down (right-click on ‘drop-shadow copy’ in the layer stack and choose ‘Merge Down’); you should have the following:

Create a new layer (name is not important); make a rectangular selection (R) between the two spheres and fill with black, then merge the layer down as before:

Right-click the ‘drop-shadow’ layer and choose ‘Alpha to Selection’ then create a new layer called ‘border’. Apply a linear gradient of #b7b7b6 to #686868 from top to bottom of the selection (don’t worry if the edges seem a little rough, we’ll sort them out shortly).

Using the rectangular select tool in subtract mode (hold CTRL before selecting to change to subtract mode) deselect the lower half of the selection, then create a new layer called ‘border-highlight’ and apply a white to transparent gradient:

Right-click the ‘border’ layer and choose ‘Alpha to Selection’ then create a new layer called ‘button-indent’. Go Select > Shrink and shrink by 6px, then apply a linear gradient of #686868 to #b6b6b5 from top to bottom of the selection. You’ll have to move the ‘button-indent’ layer above the ‘border-highlight’ layer in the layer stack (simply click and drag the layer above the other in the stack).

Go Select > Shrink and shrink by 4px. Create a new layer called ‘button-outer-shadow’ and fill with #7e7e7e, shrink by 1px; then press delete (or CTRL+K) to clear the selection. Create a new layer called ‘button-inner-shadow’ then go Select > Feather and set to 6px. Fill the selection with black and then press delete (or CTRL+K).

Shrink by 1px (Select > Shrink). Create a new layer called ‘button-highlight’; using the rectangular select tool in subtract mode (hold CTRL while selecting) deselect the lower half of the selection, and apply a white to transparent gradient.

Now it’s time to add the button text (press T for text tool), I chose this text in a green color (#adff2f).

When you’ve added the text, right-click the text layer and choose ‘Alpha to Selection’; create a new layer called ‘text-outer-shadow’ then go Select > Grow and grow by 1px. Apply a gradient of #959594 to #383838 (from top to bottom), move this layer below the text layer in the layer stack.

Right-click the text layer and choose ‘Alpha to Selection’; create a new layer called ‘text-inner-shadow’ then go Select > Feather and feather by 2px. Fill the selection with black and then press delete (or CTRL+K).

Right-click the ‘border’ layer and choose ‘Alpha to Selection’; create a new layer called ‘border-soften’. Press D then X (to reset and swap the current colors) then apply a white to transparent radial gradient:

Now we’ll sort out the rough edges and give our button more of a presence. Deselect (CTRL+SHIFT+A), select the ‘drop-shadow’ layer then go Filters > Blur > Gaussain Blur and set blur radius to 5px; then lower the layer opacity to 90% (near the top, to the right of the layer stack).

The button is now complete:

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial