button color don't match background color

[rocco]

Hello,
I use lot of graphics (usually .gif) to make buttons for my Access
applications.
And I often have to deal with an issue that I really would like to solve.
When I design my buttons in the graphic application (Fireworks) I set the
canvas color to the exact RGB color of the Access form where it is going to
be placed.
By doing so I assume that on any pc the application will run, it should
always render the colors in the same way.
But is not happening!
Let’s say the form background is grey (RGB(66,66,66)). I go and set the
exact RGB (66,66,66) in my canvas. Then I draw my button, imagine a red
circle. When ready I’ll export in .gif or .jpg format. Obviously it will be
exported as a square, having the red circle and partially the canvas.
When I use this graphic on my computer I cannot see any difference between
the button and the form background, the image seems coming out nicely from
the form. The gray from the image blends perfectly with the grey of the form
and I can only see the red circle. Fine.
But when the form is opened on some other machine its edge colors (which
should be the same grey as the form background) don’t match the form
background color and the overall look seems very unprofessional.
I cannot understand why, since I’m working with exact RGB values on both
application and these values will be used on any machine. I can understand
that the forms can look different when running on different machine but
looking at the form I shouldn’t see any difference between the edge colors of
the image and the background of the form: they have he same values and so
they should blend nicely.
I hope this is clear.
Thanks,
Rocco

 

[Wayne-I-M]

Hi

If you're using GIFs as buttons the simple thing to do would be to either
mask the GIF or select the background (canvas) as transparent. Either of
these will do what you want.

Hope this helps

Oh just thought - if you are using rollover effects you should ensure you
turn off the anitalise if using masks.

 

[rocco]

thanks,
but what if I use .jpeg? For some effects I need to use jpeg instead of gifs.
No, i don't use rollover.
Rocco

 

[Wayne-I-M]

Hi

Its very simple in fireworks to convert JPEG to GIF - do this export the
graphic and select this colour you want to be transparent. (Like you said
this will be the back ground)

In a ideal world all montiors would have the same pixels and resolution -
But ??

You are never going to get an RGB that will work on "all" screens. You
could try using pantone spots on the export - but I really think you will
have the same problem.

There is an even simpler method. Don't use a border on your graphic with
anitalise - this way "wysiwyg"

 

[Wayne-I-M]

OK - I just made a JPEG and dropper it into a form - it's rubbish as there is
(like yours a small white boarder around it).

So

Go back to fireworks and do an "inside feather" of 1 or 2 pixels. This
worked for me. No boarder.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

Instead of using RGB, use system colors which will always match no mater
which version used or graphics card used:

ColorID ColorDesc
----------- ----------------
-2147483648 Scroll bar
-2147483647 Desktop
-2147483646 Active window title bar
-2147483645 Inactive window title bar
-2147483644 Menu bar
-2147483643 Window
-2147483642 Window frame
-2147483641 Menu Text
-2147483640 Window Text (*)
-2147483639 Title bar text
-2147483638 Active window border
-2147483637 Inactive window border
-2147483636 Application background (**)
-2147483635 Highlight
-2147483634 Highlight Text
-2147483633 3-D face (***)
-2147483632 3-D shadow
-2147483631 Dimmed (disabled) text
-2147483630 Button Text
-2147483629 Inactive window title bar text
-2147483628 3-D highlight (****)
-2147483627 3-D dark shadow
-2147483626 3-D light
-2147483625 ToolTip Text
-2147483624 ToolTip background

* Use for text box forecolors (font color)
** Form detail backcolor
*** Disabled text box back color
**** Label text

 

[rocco]

Thanks for you reply.
How can I use the system color in Fireworks?

And... Why this is not happening when I use the BMPs from the clip art
collection?
Thisi is driving me crazy...

Rocco