ZPaint is a very tiny program from Steffen Gerlach, a German developer who offers this and other pieces of software from his web site. It is intended to create small and simple 3D graphics (shadowed, beveled), like buttons for your web site.
Before you download the program, you are 'advised' about the simplicity and limitations of it, it says clearly that it's better to use it in cooperation with a regular image/photography editor.
The download is a snap, just about 280K, and the installation is very fast too.
The installation does not create any folder in the start menu, just a single icon at the top-level. You will find it fast.
When you start the program, it opens with all their options available, i.e. a small draw window, and a couple of palettes (toolbars). Your eyes will scan the screen looking for something else, but that's all...there's no more.
Well, although the program is very limited, we still can play with it for a couple of minutes. Try drawing some squares over the gray area. Oh, forgot to say...just squares. If you like it, pick your shape (shadow/bevel type) and surface (color, texture) preferences, draw again, then save it or copy it to the clipboard. You're done!
Comments (2)
You guys...don't under estimate this tool's performance...and NOPE it doesn't "only just do squares". If you crank up the corner radius, it does circles!! Set your 3D at varying levels and you get lovely shadows.
Set a colour, (and adjust the settings) gives you many amazing contrasts.
As I said, I'm no graphic artist, but I have transformed photos with wonderful 3D effects....(oval ones too!!...take the circle into paint and s-t-r-e-t-c-h, clip and enter your photo). Thanks, Steffen, this tool is staying on my desktop!