Gif not looking to good on menu

[casbboy]

I have a search menu that has a tricked out blue background on it. For the 'submit' button I have a gif image instead of the default. However, the gif does not look that good and has some 'chunkiness' around it making it harder to read.

How can I create a gif that is clean on any background?? I ask this because this gif is a font that has been beveled and does not seem to want to look good on top of menu background...

Also, is it possible to put a hot spot on the background image that will support the 'submit' form function?

To see what I mean go to www.findyourtoy.com and look at the main middle search menu. You will see 'Find My Toy' in a green font and it will not look that clean. How can I fix?

Thanks
Ryan

[satis]

well, the reason it doesn't look clean is because of the white pixels on the edges. You could manually remove those, but then it'd be hard to see the type against the background

Now, you can't make the background clickable, but you COULD...

a: make a button on the background, then position a fully transparent button over it so it appears you're clicking on the background (but actually clicking an invisible button)

b: make the whole thing an image in the foreground and turn it into an image map (I might do this)

c: do the whole thing in Flash (I'd be more likely to do this)

d: make a new button

e: wait for someone else to come up with a better answer.

:)

[casbboy]

Ok, but what is the code necessary to have the image map be the input "submit" button?

Thanks
Ryan

[satis]

check out this tutorial. It should clear things up.

http://www.kasparius.com/nonflash/tutorial/tut1.htm

[Croc Hunter]

How about a real basic (solid white background) button in your sites style.

http://www.streetsie.com/images/startsearch.gif

All the text is hard to read. A more subtle background would suit.