LED pushbuttons and custom labels?

[Dragonman73]

Hey Everyone,

On my MAME set-up I'm going to use LED pushbuttons and custom labels (hopefully) on a black formica control panel. The reason I'm wanting to use labels in ALL my LED buttons is I don't want to use control panel art...and need something to still reference what the button functions are

I also purchased two ultimarc Pac drives to make sure I have enough outputs. Because in the end I also want to illuminate specific buttons for certain games.

So my question is:  Where do I start on purchasing LED pushbuttons and labels? I have looked into sites like ultimarc, paradise, and so forth but it is all overwhelming because everyone has their specific design and I don't want to buy something I don't need.

Also the labels I have found only have one-player, two-player, pause, and so forth......I am needing select, exit, and maybe button numbers as well.

Can you print your own labels with a clear material? If so what's the process?

I just need some direction on where to start if anyone has some examples or input that would be great

Thanks

[scream1973]

Pongo here sells very nice sets of vinyl labels for buttons which contain much of what you are asking for . A set sells for $10 i think it was.
I got his set #1 and am very happy with them. I have them applied over GGG electric ice buttons lit with RGB LEDS controlled by LED-Wiz controllers.

[Nephasth]

+1 on Pongo's labels. As far as LED pushbuttons go, there are plenty of options out there. I would recommend browsing other people's projects to see what style look you like best and going with what they used. I have a preference for RGB LEDs, due to the fact that you can light clear/white buttons any color you want. Also, each vendor has gone about LED mounting differently as well, but all seem to be effective. Check out the buttons I did on the Two-Headed Beast (post #43), if you went a similiar route it would look really good on a black CP and the would also look good with white vinyl labels.

[Donkbaca]

I got my buttons from Bryan at paradise arcade, he has a pretty wide selection of inserts, I would e-mail him and tell him what you want and see what he can do.


I bought a Select and Exit button from him, and they look good.  I also have custom 1p and 2p start buutons that I made.  I just printed them from a laser printer onto regular paper and cut them out and they look fine.

[Nephasth]

I got my buttons from Bryan at paradise arcade, he has a pretty wide selection of inserts, I would e-mail him and tell him what you want and see what he can do.


I bought a Select and Exit button from him, and they look good.  I also have custom 1p and 2p start buutons that I made.  I just printed them from a laser printer onto regular paper and cut them out and they look fine.

Sounds like you're brown-nosing!

Dragonman: I went with paradise as well, and am very happy with my LED buttons. <insert brown nose smiley here>

[Dragonman73]

Cool, Thanks...I just ordered all the led buttons from paradise...still gotta sort out the labels. I may contact pongo once I get all the specifics on my button figured out and see what he can do.

[Goalies Rule]

I got my buttons from Bryan at paradise arcade, he has a pretty wide selection of inserts, I would e-mail him and tell him what you want and see what he can do.


I bought a Select and Exit button from him, and they look good.  I also have custom 1p and 2p start buutons that I made.  I just printed them from a laser printer onto regular paper and cut them out and they look fine.

+1 I went with some of his buttons as well. Im happy 

[Dragonman73]

What about something like this?  If I can find the software and get the scaling correct i could make my own labels

http://cgi.ebay.com/INKJET-PRINTER-CLEAR-DECAL-Film-122-3-Pack-NEW-/360330057269?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e5585635

[Donkbaca]

I would seriously e-mail bryan and tell him what inserts you want, he does have a pretty good selection.

If not go paper, or if you want to do the decal thing, check you local office depot or staples

[Dragonman73]

I email paradise with what I needed and they said they can do it. Bryan has been out of town but susan said when he gets caught up she will send me a total cost for all the labels I need. I told them to hold the order so we can ship the labels with the buttons.

She replied pretty fast

[Dragonman73]

Update:

I got the labels from paradise for my main buttons and look great. I'm redoing my control panel again and had a question

I have a two player set-up with six buttons per player.... I really don't like my current layout...it's driving me nuts looking at it and should have put more thought into it    I like all of the buttons where they are at except the six buttons for the players next to the joystick....I used a 8-button diagram I found online and chopped off the two buttons on the left side of the layout and kept six.





I think I am going with a traditional marvel capcom six button layout with no sharp angles or shapes...so now my question:

I want to put labels in my my buttons to help figure out what button does (such as kick, punch, jump) and so forth. I realize not all games use those type of options so I need to try and include something for every game...for example if button one also functions as "fire" or "shoot" in one game as well as "punch"  in another...I need to label it accordingly with both I think.

Does that make sense or am I overthinking it? Should I just leave them blank and let my LED-WIZ light the appropriate buttons?

[BobA]

I think you should let LED wiz light the proper buttons and use CPwizard to show a screen of the buttons and their uses when required.  That way you will not have a CP with alot of labels to mess it up.  It keeps it clean and simple.

[Donkbaca]

^^^ this + 1000