Software for designing CP...

[rcub3]

What do you all recommend for designing the layout of your CP?  I used Photoshop for playing around with the background image that will be on my CP, but I need something a little more "precise", where i can take more exact measurements for the button layout, etc.  What do you use for drawing the directional arrows for the joysticks, boxes and other line highlights etc.?  I'm guessing... Illustrator? 

[Nephasth]

I use a combination of Visio and PhotoShop.

[emb]

Visio works nice if you are my planning on doing any special graphics.

Since you are using graphics, I would suggest using adobe illustrator with adobe Photoshop. Illustrator is great for lining stuff up.

[elkameleon]

I use SolidWorks, but Illustrator is easier to get your hands on, and If you know Photoshop, its got a smaller learning curve.

[nox771]

For layout design Sketchup is free.  I use it for a lot of woodworking.  You are not going to get photorealistic renderings out of the thing, but you can model things to scale, and it's easy to pick up.  I usually use the dimension tool in conjunction with prints to generate shop plans.

[mytymaus007]

For layout design Sketchup is free.  I use it for a lot of woodworking.  You are not going to get photorealistic renderings out of the thing, but you can model things to scale, and it's easy to pick up.  I usually use the dimension tool in conjunction with prints to generate shop plans.

Everything is free if you know where to look!

[rcub3]

I tried Sketchup for planning out the cuts for my CP's (haven't updated my build thread...).   It worked great and it was simply to use, but it seems like Game on Grafix doesn't accept that format?  Although, if I'm going with a plexi cover, I might just print out the CP at a Kinko's or something. 

I might go with Illustrator... but will look into the others.  Thanks