Build-a-Button capabilities

So what makes the Build-a-Button Online Design Center^TM so special?

Why do we feel 100% confident in proclaiming it the "greatest web application in the history of button making?"

Here are some of the features we think you will be most excited about.

Speed

The application takes a few seconds to load and then moves with real-time quickness from there.

Text in a circle

Anyone who has designed buttons with text understands how tricky it can be to properly format text in a circle. The Build-a-Button Online Design Center makes this easy!

Images

We give you the ability to upload multiple images up to 5MB in size. Then, via the design center, you can resize, move left, right, up and down, and rotate it 360 degrees in one degree increments.

Templates

You don't need to bring anything with you to this party; we've got templates already made and loaded for you!

And included in the templates is one that assists in making political buttons. Go get those votes!

Button Sizes

There are over 20 possible button sizes that you can choose from, including various shapes. Here is the breakdown of what sizes and shapes are available:

Round: 7/8, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.25, 3, 3.5, 6, BAM 2.25 and BAM 3*
Square: 1 x 1, 1.5 x 1.5, 2 x 2, 2.5 x 2.5, and 3 x 3
Rectangle: 1.75 x 2.75, 1.5 x 4.5, 2 x 3, and 2.5 x 3.5
Oval: 1.75x2.75

(Note: all sizes listed in inches.)

* - Yes! We offer BAM 2.25" and 3" templates so customers with Badge-a-Minit machines can use our software!

Layers

You have the ability to overlay images and text and then move them forward or backwards in the layer structure. This gives you the opportunity to produce a much richer, diverse, layered design. You might think you'd need to go to Photoshop to do this, but we've got you covered!

Colors

You have granular control of the background color, the text color, and the outline color of the text.

Shapes

You can add interesting design elements to your button with the Build-a-Button Design Center shapes tool. You can add hearts, stars, squares, rectangles, ovals, arrows, and straight lines. You can also change the size, thickness, color of line, and fill color.

Format Options

You can save your artwork as jpg or pdf file formats. You can select how many images you save per page (1- 24, depending on the button size) to save on ink and toner. Or you can fill up an entire page for larger productions.

Paint Tool

You can draw freehand right on the button!

Color Picker

You have the ability to select a specific color and display the color's hexidecimal or RGB value.

Build-a-Button Classic vs. Build-a-Button 5.0

New features have been tweaked, enhancements have been enhanced even more and the wait is over! Build-a-Button 5.0 has been officially unleashed on the button world. But maybe you don't need all the bells and whistles of Version 5.0, perhaps Build-a-Button Classic will continue to fit your needs? This page will show you the differences between the two button design software options so you can make the choice that works best for you.

Feature	Classic	5.0
Speed	X	X
Perfectly Sized Button Templates	X	X
Text in a Circle	X	X
20+ Button sizes to choose from	X	X
Photoshop Type Layers	X	X
Granular Control of Color	X	X
Shapes	X	X
Save designs as JPG or PDF	X	X
Custom Color Picker	X	X
Upload File Types: PSD, PNG, TIFF, GIF, BMP & SVG		X
Tablet & Mobile Friendly		X
Undo / Redo Buttons		X
Added 600+ fonts		X
Print different designs on 1 page		X
Edit a saved design		X
Auto upload CSV file to empty text box		X
Add Accent Ring / Bleed Edge		X
Save design as a transparent PNG		X
Photo Eraser Tool		X
Text Drop Shadow Tool		X
Stock Photos		X
Stock Silhouettes		X
Alignment Grid Lines		X
Radial & Linear Gradients		X
Photo Filter: Gray Scale		X
Photo Filter: Sepia		X
Photo Filter: Negative		X
Crop Photo Size		X
Increased Maximum Font Size		X

Build-a-Button 5.0 Enhancements
1) Managing Fonts Purpose: BAB 5.0 comes with most of the standard font choices as did the Classic version. But, it also has 600+ more fonts to choose from! How: To peruse the choices and add some to your list, click on the “Add Fonts” link above the drop down menu for the standard choices. These extra fonts are broken down into categories to make them more easily searchable. Deselect any categories you don’ want to search. Populate the “add” box for the fonts you like and click “Done”. These fonts will be added to your list. Added fonts will stay in your list for the current session and will need to be added again for future session.
2) Text in a Circle Purpose: Allows you to easily place text around the perimeter of your button. How: Select "Add Curved Text" and begin typing in the left hand side text box. The default setting is for the text to curve down, which is to be placed at the top of the button. If you want to place text at the bottom of the button, select Curve Up and then select the "Reverse" box so the text is arranged properly. Use the "Curved Text Radius" Up and Down arrows (+- buttons for tablets and mobile phones) to adjust the curvature of the text and make it fit properly around the button.
3) Text Shapes Purpose: Buttons are supposed to be eye catching, right? Pick a cool font and then pair it with our ultra modern text shapes to give your text a little more oomph. How: To begin, click on the “Add Text” box on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to “Text Options” and you’ll find a dropdown menu for Text Shapes. Make your choice and then move back up to the text box and begin typing. The text will appear on the template in the shape and font chosen. How cool is that?
4) Accent Rings Purpose: Accent rings are used to enhance a photo or design by adding color around the border. You may add either a single color or a dual colored gradient to add pizzazz to your design. An added benefit to the accent ring function is to offset bubbling issues when using some laser printers. The standard width of the accent ring is .125” which. Simply add a default sized "white" accent ring to your design and it will provide a non-print area around the back of the button. You can read more about the laser printer phenomenon if you click the following link on bubble mylar using laser printers. How: Select the “Lines” Tab and click the green Accent Ring icon. Click on the single color picker box and choose the color you want to use. Press the + button until it is the size you want. Continue clicking the + button until the ring is inside the red dotted line denoting the image area and has reached the desired thickness. Clicking the – button will reduce the thickness of the accent ring. To add a two-color accent ring, click the Gradient Color boxes and choose your desired colors. Clicking the + and – buttons will move the gradient division line up and down. To remove the accent ring completely, simply click the green Accent Ring icon in the toolbar or keep selecting the - button until it disappears.
5) Tag Lines Purpose: Tag Lines allow you to add your contact information along the outside edge that will be visible on the back of a button. How: Click on the “Lines” Tab. Click on the blue Tag Line icon and the Tag Line will appear on the button template. Please note: the blue lines will not print on your final design. Next, Click “Text” on the left side of the screen and then choose Curved Text. Choose your font and begin typing the Tag Line information in the Text box. The words will first appear in the middle of the button. Simply drag the text into the blue Tag Line area, or use Up and Down arrows found under Curved Text for tablets and mobile phones. Decrease the font size until it fits into the tag line area. Use the Curved Text Radius Up and Down arrows (+- buttons for tablets and mobile phones) to adjust the curvature of the text and make it fit within the blue Tag Lines.
6) Grid Lines Purpose: Trying to perfectly center or align multiple items on your screen can be challenging. Very few of us have the ability to see where a center line is without assistance. Enter the Grid Lines. Its entire purpose in life is to help you center or align images and text quickly and accurately. How: From the Save & File tab, click on the Grid Lines icon to turn on the grid overlay. Move the desired picture or text around in the grid until it’s placed exactly where it’s needed. Click the icon again to turn it off.
7) Image filters Purpose: Image filters are really, really cool. With these tools, turn your color photo black and white, make it look like a negative or give it an early 20th century effect. How: Using any of these filters is very easy. Upload your photo, choose “filters” from the “Images and Shapes” tab. Then select your choice. Presto change-o your photo has been magically altered and given a fresh look.
Save and Printing Options: 8) Save to Print Purpose: Saves your button design to your computer, tablet or mobile device. File options are PDF, JPG or transparent PNG. How: Click Save to Print and a dialog box will open asking to choose a button template, depending on the type of paper cutter you own. Options include Die Cutting Press, which fills the entire page while the Punch Cutter layout allows you to choose how many images of the same design are printed per page. Select a button template and click OK. A new dialog box will pop up asking if you want to save your design as a PDF, JPG or transparent PNG. Please see the section below, “File Types Explained” to read the differences between the files types. Select the file type you wish to use and press Ok. Build-a-Button 5.0 will begin to process your image. After processing successfully, a dialog box will appear asking if you want to Open or Save your image. You can open the file and print immediately, or best practices are to save it immediately to your device. Please make note of where you are saving your design. Most devices save to a Download folder but be aware of where you are saving your design because it varies depending on your browser or operating system.
9) Save to Edit Purpose: The most exciting part of this option is that our special format saves all of your images, text and layers perfectly arranged so that you can save it for later and pick up again exactly where you left off. This option saves your button design to your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device in a special text format that can be uploaded and edited at a later date without losing any content or image quality. How: Create your design and when you come to a stopping point, click the Save to Edit icon. The design will be saved, as is, in a text format to the folder of your choice. Ready and waiting until you call upon it again.
10) Upload to Edit Purpose: Upload your previously saved button designs for editing. Please note: you must have originally saved your images using our special Save to Edit text option to use this feature. How: Click the Upload to Edit icon and a dialog box will open. Find your previously saved text file you want to upload. Click the green upload file and watch as your previously saved design appears before your very eyes on the template. You are now ready to complete, alter or enhance to your heart’s content. Still not finished? Feel free to Save to Edit again and pick up where you left off.
11) Load and Print Purpose: Load and Print allows you take different designs and upload them to a single page. Use this feature when you don’t need a full page of one design, but rather multiple images printed on a single sheet. Save paper, save ink and save money with this fantastic feature! How: Once again, these files must have been previously saved using our special “Save to Edit” option. To begin the process, click on the Load and Print icon found on the File & Save tab. A dialog box will open asking you to choose the output file type for your new page (PDF, JPG or PNG). Click OK and a new box opens so you can choose which files to upload. Click on browse and choose the first file. Click on browse again to choose the next file. Do this until you have all the designs you want included ready to upload. Click “Upload” and Build-a-Button 5.0 begins to process your designs. After processing successfully, a dialog box will appear asking if your want to Open or Save your image. You can open the file and print immediately, or best practices are to save it immediately to your device. Please make note of where you are saving your design. Most devices save to a Download folder but be aware of where you are saving your design because it varies depending on your browser or operating system.
12) CSV File to Print Purpose: This feature allows you to upload a CSV file (comma separated value) and automatically place each cell’s contents into a blank space on your button design. For example, let’s say your high school reunion is next week and you want to make a custom button for each of your classmates. All you need to do is design your button using your school colors, mascot and the name of your school at the top of the button. Then choose a special text box that will print a different class members name on each button. How: Save a CSV file with whatever text you want to change for each individual button. For example, if using Excel place each name in a separate cell and arrange them vertically. Step One: Design your awesome high school reunion button with images and text. Step Two: Click the Add Text button on the left side of the screen. Step Three: Move the blank text box to where you want to place each classmate’s name. Step Four: Select the “File & Save Tab” and then “CSV File to Print” icon. Step Five: A dialog box will open. Choose the output file type for your designs (PDF, JPG or PNG). Step Six: Browse and select your CSV file on your desktop or device. Click the green “Upload” button and Build-a-Button will automatically process your images and save them according to the punch cutter layout, allowing you to save each design sheet with a different file name
13) Eraser Tool Purpose: Erase unwanted portions of an uploaded image. How: Please click the following link to learn how our eraser tool works.
14) File Formats and Functions File Types Explained: PDF – Portable Document Format Most customers prefer to save their designs in a PDF format because images are saved in high resolution, offering no loss in quality and are very easy to print to the correct button size. The only software needed to view and print the image is Adobe Reader which is usually found on most computers and if not, it is free to download and use.
JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group. A .JPG file extension, (pronounced Jay Peg) is a common image file type found in emails, websites and digital photography. It is a lossy compression format, which means it loses quality each time it is saved. Graphic software is required to view or print a JPG image. Printing button designs to the correct size can be challenging if you do not have the right software. JPG software is not created equally, that is why most ABM customers prefer saving designs in a PDF format, which alleviates the need for JPG software and its associated printing challenges.
Transparent PNG: A PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file allows for images to be saved with a transparent background. IE: No white square surrounding the image. Printing issues are similar to printing JPG files where software programs are not created equally. That is why most ABM customers prefer saving designs in a PDF format, which alleviates the need for purchasing additional software and its associated printing challenges.
CSV: Comma-Separated Values (CSV) files store numbers and text in a plain unformatted text format. Build-a-Button 5.0 is capable of processing CSV formatted lists.
Text: A text file contains text and binary numbers. Build-a-Button 5.0 is capable of saving complex designs in our special text file format, which allows the user to save a button design that can be uploaded and edited at a later date without losing any content or image quality.

Build-a-Button capabilities

Build-a-Button Classic vs. Build-a-Button 5.0

Build-a-Button 5.0 Enhancements

1) Managing Fonts

2) Text in a Circle

3) Text Shapes

4) Accent Rings

5) Tag Lines

6) Grid Lines

7) Image filters

Save and Printing Options:

8) Save to Print

9) Save to Edit

10) Upload to Edit

11) Load and Print

12) CSV File to Print

13) Eraser Tool

14) File Formats and Functions

File Types Explained: