It is extremely easy to create buttons for Web sites using Photoshop’s Layer Effects. Here’s a quick tutorial that explains how to make a simple button. You can use any of Photoshop’s shape tools to create the basic shape. For example, many buttons are rectangular, so you might select the rounded rectangle tool. Click and drag to create a rounded rectangle that’s filled with the currently selected foreground color. (The setting in the Radius field on the options bar controls the roundness of the corners.)
Once you have your rectangle, you can use layer effects to make it look more like a button. To show the palette, choose Window|Layers or press the F7 key. In the palette, you have a background layer and a layer called Shape 1. You will add effects to the Shape 1 layer, so click to make sure it is selected.
To add a border on your button, click the little "Add a Layer Style" F button at the bottom of the Layers palette and choose Stroke. Next to Color, click the square to pop up the color picker, so you can change the color. You also can use the Size slider to change the width of your new border. For example, on my button, I made a black, 1 pixel border. If you click to add a checkmark next to Preview you can see how your choices affect the button. When you are happy, click OK to exit the Layer Style dialog box.
If you don’t want a flat button, you can use another Layer effect to give the illusion of a button that is raised. Click the F icon again, but this time choose Bevel and Emboss. For example to create a raised button next to Style, choose Inner Bevel and from Technique, choose Chisel Hard. You can alter the size of the bevel and soften it using the sliders. If you want to get really fancy, you can use the other controls to change the angle of the light and even the shadow color.
After you’ve created a button you like, just select the Text tool to type some text on it. (In fact, because text is added on a separate layer, you can add layer effects to it as well.) As you can see, it’s easy to have all kinds of fun playing with Photoshop’s Layer Effects. Once you’ve figured out how they work, you’ll find that creating buttons for your Web site is really no big deal.