This How to Guide will show you how to:
Designing your Button
You can use a number of different software programs to design your buttons:
- The Button Guy (recommended)
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
Templates are available from The Button Guy.
Designing with The Button Guy
- Visit thebuttonguy.net.
- To get started, select Free Online Button Designer.
- Sign up and log in to your free account.
- Select your button size. If you are using one of MakerLab's button makers, choose 1.5".
- Click on any text to edit it using the text editor menu on the right.
- Select any element to change its color using the right side menu.
- Use the show/hide menu on the bottom to remove elements.
- Select Upload Image to add a photo to your design.
- Be sure to save your work!
- Save Session to save the project file and be able to make edits in the future.
- Save This Button to save and print your finished design.
Making your Button
- Place the button components in the pickup die and the crimp die.

- Rotate the pickup die clockwise until it is underneath the upper die.

- Pull the handle all the way down to crimp the shell, graphic, and mylar in the upper die.

- The components are now in the upper die. Raise the handle and rotate the crimp die counter clockwise.

- With the pinback still in the crimp die,

- Pull the handle a second time.

- Rotate the die clockwise to see your finished button.

- Your button is complete!

View the tutorial videos below for additional help.