I am not too familiar with PageMaker. What you need is a graphics program that can:
1. Allows you to save a graphic to a size that will fit into the MX-3000. The screen is 240 pixels tall and 320 pixels wide. Typically you will make backgrounds first, then individual buttons that can be repositioned anywhere on the page and are much smaller. On the actual screen of the MX-3000, each inch measures exactly 72 pixels.
2. Allows you to save a graphic in a file type supported by the MX-3000:
a. PNG files allow you to make buttons that have graduated transparency (like a gradually fading drop shadow beneath the button, that floats transparently anywhere over your background.)
b. GIF files allow you to make buttons that have a single color transparent (this still allows you to float the button anywhere over a background, but does not allow realistic looking drop shadows).
c. JPG or BMP files. These can look great, but are normally relegated to 240 pixel by 320 pixel buttons that sit on the back of the page and serve as backgrounds to the actual buttons.
Note that in MX-3000 Editor everything you see is a button. Buttons that are NOT programmed to do anything, will simply appear as graphic elements of your screen.
Animations are harder. You need to generate a different picture for each "frame" of the animation. There are many programs that are shareware or very inexpensive that create great animations. The MX-3000 supports only one type of animation - Animated GIF files.
If you'd like to try making buttons without animation, one of my favorites is
http://www.crystalbutton.com/This program allows you to make PNG buttons with graduated transparency and is very reasonably priced.
The learning curve for Photoshop is extraordinarily long. I do not recommend you try that, unless you want to become a graphics professional.
Hope that helps!
-Eric
Last edited by Eric Johnson
on May 13, 2006 11:03.
