Jagged images for web

[Daran@adobeforums.com]

I'm a bit new to all this and I could really do with some help. I am trying to make some buttons for a web site using illustrator 10. They are very simple slanted rectangles with rounded edges and text (sized at 76px wide x 15px high). My problem is that when I save for web they turn into jagged boxes, the text is practically unreadeable and the rounded corners are "chopped off".
I have tried to solve the problem by using various combinations to the save from the settings tool bar but, so far, to no avail. I have also exported to Photoshop and tried to save the file from there, but I still get the same results.
Would really appreciate some feedback on this as it's driving me barmy!

[LenHewitt@adobeforums.com]

Daran,

1) This is one case when it would be better to set the text in Photoshop
where you have a variety of anti-aliasing options for the text available to
you (Strong, Smooth etc.)

2) Use Save for Web from Photoshop after setting the text there.

3) For small text, GIF is a better format than JPG - JPEG compression often
does nasty things to small text.

4) Make sure when you place (or paste) the Illustrator created boxes into
Photoshop that you have the anti-alias option selected

[Jonathan_McClintic@adobeforums.com]

Daran,

When saving for web from Illustrator, it might be good to use the 4 up screen until you can learn the strong points of the various options of the formats available. Play around with the anti-alias button and compare jpegs to gifs. Also play around with transparent background verses solid, and if you web page has a color background (not white) check and see if using a different matte setting gets you better results. Another thing you may want to look into if you have the image getting cut off is to set up crop marks to determine exactly the size that gets exported.

Jonathan

[Daran@adobeforums.com]

Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Simple when you know how! In the end I created the text in Photoshop (thanks Len), used a coloured Matte to give the clarity back to the rounded corners (thanks Jonathon) and I increased the (outline)stroke weight around my button (thanks Sams)...
....and it worked.
Cheers
D

[LenHewitt@adobeforums.com]

You're welcome, Daran

[Jonathan_McClintic@adobeforums.com]

Any time Daran