First decide what size you want the invisible button to be .
For example I have several I created - square, rectangular and other shapes.
They are saved as invisible-.gifs with the size in the title eg 40x40.gif to remind me of their size in pixels.
In Photoshop .... Go to file / new
Preset = Custom
Type in the pixel dimensions you would like
e.g a rectangular one 40pixels wide by 100 pixels long (to cover text)
or 40 pixels by 40 pixels to cover a small square button .
Lets start with:
width 40 pixels
height 40 pixels
Resolution - can be any number, as we are going to use this for a projected image NOT a print. You may notice that whatever resolution you decide to put in, if you want to bother, the file size remains the same, as we have set our image size in pixel dimensions.
Background contents : Transparent
name it - invisible40x40 or something similar.
You will then have a square small shape in Photoshop which has a checkerboard background (as it is transparent)
Go to file / save for web
select gif not jpeg (right hand side 5th down)
make sure transparency is ticked
save -any name so that you can quickly recognise its size invisible40x40.gif
Make sure it is saved in a folder where you can keep your invisible buttons collection.
Then just copy the ones you need for your new menu page into that particular PTE sequence folder with the image.
When you open your new pte menu sequence
Import your pte menu background image (your only image)
Go to object editor and click the fourth "picture" button (top left)
Find your new invisible button (which you have already copied next to the pte menu image and click open.
It will appear as a pale blue semi-transparent image, which you can then move over the spot/text/ background where you will wish to use it as an "invisible" button. When it is in position, click properties and give this new "invisible" button its directions....
i.e. action on mouse click "run application or open file
and then the name of the program or folder you want it to open
If you have created your new pte menu sequence
and did not have project options / advanced
mouse buttons left & right set to "none" .
.then if you inadvertently click off your invisible button when you're running your new pte menu program, that the mouse click on the background will revert to the default setting,
which is often set to "exit".
You will suddenly find your new pte menu sequence has closed
(hence my advice to have a shortcut of it on your desktop so you can very quickly reopen it if necessary.)
How do you know where to click on the background to open the new sequence? ......
You will notice that the cursor changes from an arrow to a hand when it is over the "invisible" button.
October 2005 .
