How to Make a Glossy Button in Pixelmator

Pixelmator is a graphic design program available for Mac OS X. You can edit and create original digital graphics using the software, such as a glossy button image. The layers and paint features of Pixelmator allows you to create a glossy glow on any existing button image. Once you flatten the layers and save the changes to your button, you can upload the image and use it on a website layout or social networking page.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Launch Pixelmator. Click “File” and select “Open” to browse for your button image. Click the image to load it in the program.
   • 2
     Click “Layers,” then click “New Layer” to create a floating layer above your button image.
   • 3
     Select a “Brush Tool” from the toolbox and double-click the tool icon to open the settings.
   • 4
     Edit your brush thickness to between 20 and 30 pixels wide. You may need to experiment with the size, depending on the height of your button image.
   • 5
     Select the white color from your brush color palette.
   • 6
     Click on the top right side of your button to place a starting mark.
   • 7
     Click on the top left side of your button, directly across the starting mark. Pixelmator automatically fills in the area between the two clicks with a white brush stroke.
   • 8
     Click on the “Opacity” slider for the layer and move the slider to the left to decrease the opacity of the white line. This creates a glossy shine effect over your button image.
   • 9
     Click the “Layers” menu and click “Merge Layers” to flatten the gloss layer on your button image.
   • 10
     Click “File” and click “Save” to save the changes to your button.