//// EmptyBorder ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////	
    final static Border emptyBorder = new EmptyBorder(0, 0, 0, 0);

    /**
     * Creates an empty border that takes up no space. (The width
     * of the top, bottom, left, and right sides are all zero.)
     *
     * @return the <code>Border</code> object
     */
    public static Border createEmptyBorder() {
	return emptyBorder;
    }

    /**
     * Creates an empty border that takes up space but which does
     * no drawing, specifying the width of the top, left, bottom, and
     * right sides.
     *
     * @param top     an integer specifying the width of the top,
     *			in pixels
     * @param left    an integer specifying the width of the left side,
     *			in pixels
     * @param bottom  an integer specifying the width of the bottom,
     *			in pixels
     * @param right   an integer specifying the width of the right side,
     *			in pixels
     * @return the <code>Border</code> object
     */
    public static Border createEmptyBorder(int top, int left, 
						int bottom, int right) {
	return new EmptyBorder(top, left, bottom, right);
    }

//// CompoundBorder ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /**
     * Creates a compound border with a <code>null</code> inside edge and a
     * <code>null</code> outside edge.
     *
     * @return the <code>CompoundBorder</code> object
     */
    public static CompoundBorder createCompoundBorder() { 
	return new CompoundBorder(); 
    }

    /**
     * Creates a compound border specifying the border objects to use
     * for the outside and inside edges.
     *
     * @param outsideBorder  a <code>Border</code> object for the outer
     *				edge of the compound border
     * @param insideBorder   a <code>Border</code> object for the inner
     *				edge of the compound border
     * @return the <code>CompoundBorder</code> object
     */
    public static CompoundBorder createCompoundBorder(Border outsideBorder, 
						Border insideBorder) { 
	return new CompoundBorder(outsideBorder, insideBorder); 
    }

//// MatteBorder ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /**
     * Creates a matte-look border using a solid color. (The difference between
     * this border and a line border is that you can specify the individual
     * border dimensions.)
     *
     * @param top     an integer specifying the width of the top,
     *				in pixels
     * @param left    an integer specifying the width of the left side,
     *				in pixels
     * @param bottom  an integer specifying the width of the right side,
     *				in pixels
     * @param right   an integer specifying the width of the bottom,
     *				in pixels
     * @param color   a <code>Color</code> to use for the border
     * @return the <code>MatteBorder</code> object 
     */
    public static MatteBorder createMatteBorder(int top, int left, int bottom, int right, 
                                                Color color) {
        return new MatteBorder(top, left, bottom, right, color);
    }

    /**
     * Creates a matte-look border that consists of multiple tiles of a 
     * specified icon. Multiple copies of the icon are placed side-by-side
     * to fill up the border area.
     * <p>
     * Note:<br> 
     * If the icon doesn't load, the border area is painted gray.
     *
     * @param top     an integer specifying the width of the top,
     *				in pixels
     * @param left    an integer specifying the width of the left side,
     *				in pixels
     * @param bottom  an integer specifying the width of the right side,
     *				in pixels
     * @param right   an integer specifying the width of the bottom,
     *				in pixels
     * @param tileIcon  the <code>Icon</code> object used for the border tiles
     * @return the <code>MatteBorder</code> object
     */