Please Check out First Try at Control Panel Art!

[LASmith132]

Hey Guys,

Here is my first try at some CP Artwork for my own personal MAME Arcade.

What do you think?

What are the normal dimensions for a two player CP? mine right now is 30"x17"

Also: Please feel free  to rework it, give me ideas, hints, other thoughts, make fun of, ect.

I want my Cab and CP to be a Black and White themed, as you can see. I feel that I am kinda stuck I don't really know how to add buttons joys etc to the file.

I also included the original PNG's if anyone would be gracious enough to give it a go for me

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated thank you!

[LASmith132]

Second Try

[jmike]

Second Try

 
           Keep it up! I love that shadowing effect. +1 on the black and white theme.
Are you planning on putting "SF" anywhere on CP?


 

[LASmith132]

Second Try

 
           Keep it up! I love that shadowing effect. +1 on the black and white theme.
Are you planning on putting "SF" anywhere on CP?


 

Thank you!

I don't plan on it, I am trying to keep it as simple as possible on the rest of the cab. I plan on having "ARCADE" spelled out vertically in TRON Font on both sides of the cabinet(black backround, white lettering, possibly slits cut into the letters to allow  light blue led's to shine through.

But this is still all in my head of course.

Any ideas on which is the best way to put joys and buttons on this panel?

Thanks again!

[PL1]

I plan on having "ARCADE" spelled out vertically in TRON Font on both sides of the cabinet

I have never understood why so many people feel this urge to label their cab with the word "arcade" or use a project name ending in "-cade".

When was the last time you looked at a toaster emblazoned with the word "toaster" or a refrigerator with the word "fridge" plastered all over it?

It just seems like an insult to the viewer's intelligence that they need to be told what the big box with the screen, sticks, and buttons is.

Additionally, if someone is too stupid to know what a cab is, do you really want them touching your build?   
[/rant]

Not saying you shouldn't use the word "arcade" on the sideart, just asking you to be sure that's actually what you want instead of just keeping a placeholder name that you might not have thought through.

(black backround, white lettering, possibly slits cut into the letters to allow  light blue led's to shine through.

This part sounds cool.  You might want to use the material used for marquees for the backlit portion instead of cutting it up.

Any ideas on which is the best way to put joys and buttons on this panel?

The main mistake that people seem to make is buttons/joysticks that cover the face -- especially the eyes.

Try to make this like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ad, "Two great tastes that taste great together."

The background art may look perfect by itself and the joystick/button layout may look perfect, but if the joystick ends up located on the groin area of one of the characters, I suspect you'll be . . . unthrilled.

If you have layers in your editing software, add two layers.  If not, change software.

On one layer, you can place your favorite layout from Slagcoin.

On the next layer up, mark the centers of the buttons/joys and add halos/text/whatever else.

Once you have the second layer looking good and properly aligned, you can delete the Slagcoin layer.

Once you have the desired placement and spacing for the joy/button layout, you can adjust the background art so it compliments and works with the layout.


Scott

[LASmith132]

I have never understood why so many people feel this urge to label their cab with the word "arcade" or use a project name ending in "-cade".

When was the last time you looked at a toaster emblazoned with the word "toaster" or a refrigerator with the word "fridge" plastered all over it?

It just seems like an insult to the viewer's intelligence that they need to be told what the big box with the screen, sticks, and buttons is.

Additionally, if someone is too stupid to know what a cab is, do you really want them touching your build?   
[/rant]

I completely understand what you are saying,

I guess when it comes down to it I am a simple guy at heart, I always knew any cabinets( metal slug, pac-man, etc) as "arcades"

I'm not really into making my cabinet look like an original cabinet of any kind, and I also not really into splashing the side art with a bunch of random characters, also I don't want an original name like "my name-cade". some people are, and thats fine I am just boring I guess, lol.

This part sounds cool.  You might want to use the material used for marquees for the backlit portion instead of cutting it up.

Can you go into more detail, sounds interesting but I am not following what you mean.

Thank you,

The main mistake that people seem to make is buttons/joysticks that cover the face -- especially the eyes.

Try to make this like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ad, "Two great tastes that taste great together."

The background art may look perfect by itself and the joystick/button layout may look perfect, but if the joystick ends up located on the groin area of one of the characters, I suspect you'll be . . . unthrilled.

If you have layers in your editing software, add two layers.  If not, change software.

On one layer, you can place your favorite layout from Slagcoin.

On the next layer up, mark the centers of the buttons/joys and add halos/text/whatever else.

Once you have the second layer looking good and properly aligned, you can delete the Slagcoin layer.

Once you have the desired placement and spacing for the joy/button layout, you can adjust the background art so it compliments and works with the layout.

This is awesome thank you for the heads up, I can see why people don't think about this step.

Thank you for your reply! 

Also what do you think of the actual art? any good? what could I change?

Thanks again.

[PL1]

This part sounds cool.  You might want to use the material used for marquees for the backlit portion instead of cutting it up.

Can you go into more detail, sounds interesting but I am not following what you mean.

Regular sideart vinyl doesn't let light pass through easily.

The material that marquees are printed on allows the light to pass through like a stained glass window.

You could use printed vinyl/paint/laminate over most of the cab side.  A cutout area could hold the backlit portion printed on translight material like a marquee.

Also what do you think of the actual art? any good? what could I change?

Messing with your background art at this stage might prove to be a waste of time.

It's impossible to say what changes, if any, might be desirable without using the "Peanut Butter Cup" test.

Apply the artwork to the actual CP dimensions -- you'll want this to be at 300dpi resolution (200 dpi minimum) so it prints out clean and clear. (Most web graphics are at 72dpi that look fine on screen, but not when printed.)

Add the joystick/button layer to see how it looks.

If there is something you need to adjust on the background art, this should reveal it.


Scott

[LASmith132]

Great Advice !

Thank you so much!

  Please Keep the opinions, advice, hints, options, etc coming from anyone!

[wol-nz]

Yea - i like the black/white/shadow art.
I agree some what with PL1 on the arcade word on the side panel.

It looks to me like your creating a fighting cab (streetfighter theme) - so...

How about using words like
Beat'emUp
fight time
Hadouken
...
Have some cool Chinese characters for good measure
I'm sure you could come up with something better 

[PL1]

To continue on in the spirit of Wol-nz's suggestion:



Hajime - "Begin".
A command given by the instructor/referee to start a Kata (form), or Kumite. (sparring)


If you want the other side to have a different command, you might use this:


Yame - "Stop!"


Scott

[LASmith132]

Yea not into Chinese Characters too much, but thank you for the suggestion.

I was playing around with maybe putting one character (Hulk black white shaded, maybe looking up) on one side & same thing different character on the other. white smokey background & black t-molding.

Whatcha think?

[PL1]

Yea not into Chinese Characters too much, but thank you for the suggestion.

It's Japanese, but thanks for playing.   

I figured that you might like the name "Hajime" since it would tie in with the fighting game theme -- threw in the images as a bonus.

I was playing around with maybe putting one character (Hulk black white shaded, maybe looking up) on one side & same thing different character on the other. white smokey background & black t-molding.

Hard to say without seeing the actual execution, but it sounds promising.


Scott

[LASmith132]

SO here are the updates please tweak, redo, whatever if you want too I would love it!

Also Please Let me know what you think!!!???!!! 

[wol-nz]

Are you going to pay for professional printing services?
If so - if was me... i would splash some colour on the sides.
All that white space on the sides doesn't do it for me. I can see where you are heading with the black white theme. But for me arcade games are loud vibrant and 'colourful' 

It just may very well look a little bland in two tone...

[LASmith132]

I guess I like bland or how I like to call it "clean"

[Bryan500cc]

I really like the CP art  ,

but the side panels are too plain IMO, especially Ironman.

Ken isnt bad with those dark patches (blood?) they help make it pop. but is still missing something.

I agree it needs some colour. but maybe faint faded colour? 

[Felsir]

I like the black and white look, but as others have mentioned a dash of color might work.
May I suggest coloring one element in each image? For example keep everything b/w but vcolor Ryu's headband bright red.
It's like those b/w photo's of London but the doubledecker bus is kept red.

[Bryan500cc]

exactly. maybe hulk couls be a faded grey/green. iron mans eyes, chest piece and palm piece lit up? 

[lordnacho]

The CP looks cool, but not digging the white behind the characters on the sideart.  Try same gray as CP or a b/w background behind them. 

[shponglefan]

I think that without planning the location of joysticks and buttons, you might be in for disappointment when designing CP art with nice looking characters.  Often times people do this and then wind up with buttons covering faces, joysticks protruding from foreheads, etc.

Plan the location of your buttons and joysticks first, then design CP art to match.

Personally I'd either remove Ryu/Wolverine or replace the Hulk/Guile figures in the back with similar faded Ryu and Wolverines.  I would not have them in location they are in on a CP for the above mentioned reason.

[PL1]

Even guys who do great work can make mistakes like this with joynicorns and eyes being covered -- a couple inches to the left and Cory could have dodged those bullets.   




Scott

[LASmith132]

I see what your saying now, The side art is being changed for sure, I will also make the CP panel first then design the whats going to be layed over the top.

Thanks for all the help guys once I have the side art drawn up I will post it and you guys can give me your thoughts!

thanks for the awesome site and all the help.

[LASmith132]

Here is my updated design with Dimensions and the charcters put onto the CP. What do you guys think of the button placement? if you could change the background how would you improve it?

[PL1]

Looks pretty good.

Do you want it to wrap around the curve and go down the front or cut it shorter?

Depending on the answer, you may need to adjust the height so you don't have the seam ending on the curve.


Scott

[LASmith132]

Looks pretty good.

Do you want it to wrap around the curve and go down the front or cut it shorter?

Depending on the answer, you may need to adjust the height so you don't have the seam ending on the curve.


Scott

I am going to have the vinyl wrap down in front, I guess I am not sold on the design anymore due to my new side art I am trying to accomplish.

I feel like I am hitting a wall with design. I cannot figure out how to incorperate my side art (shown on a different post if your interested) into my CP.

I am going to be using vinyl for both the CP and the side art.

If anyone got any ideas let me know.

Thanks for all the help so far!

[Drnick]

For the control panel tying in with the side art, Are you going to be doing different coloured sides?  If so then a simple patterned background of a single colour with some straight lines that go across from left to right. These lines can have the colour gradient applied so they flow from the colour one side of the cab to the other.

I'm one of those kind of people that likes things clean and simple.  You have a lot of straight lines going on with the side art, I would definitely keep that going across the CP & Marquee.