Tinted or Non tinted bezel glass? (Lexan)

[DarakuTenshi]

Just curious as to the reasons why someone would want to go with a tinted rather than a clear? Is it easier on the eyes for the longer gaming sessions, hide mistakes behind the glass? And wouldn't it change the color of the on screen colors?

I guess I'm looking for the pros and cons to the whole topic. Since I'm undecided.

[WindDrake]

Tinting hides the cardboard bezels.

If you are going to mask/paint your bezel glass, just go with clear.

[jtslade]

Tint can hide screen burn to some effect on CRT arcade monitors..

[mrclean]

Just curious as to the reasons why someone would want to go with a tinted rather than a clear? Is it easier on the eyes for the longer gaming sessions, hide mistakes behind the glass? And wouldn't it change the color of the on screen colors?

I guess I'm looking for the pros and cons to the whole topic. Since I'm undecided.

Some games came with tinted plexi such as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-man, Burgertime etc.. It darkens the screen drastically. I'm so used to it on certain titles that If those titles didn't have the tinted plastic it would be too bright. The major pro is that It does hide screen burn in as well. You need to turn up the brightness to counter this and likely causing more stress on the CRT in the long run. My advice would be if it's for a multicade to use clear acrylic / lexan or clear glass if possible. That being said I would say that much more of a majority never had tinted sheets behind the glass, a few games yes but that's about it.

[DarakuTenshi]

Thanks guys.

[kiwasabi]

If you're going to go with a plastic bezel, just use acrylic (plexi). Lexan is more expensive and actually scratches easier because it's softer.

Tempered glass is actually the best as far as being scratch resistant and authentic looking. For a home MAME cabinet you really don't generally need to be concerned with things like kids punching or scratching the bezel though so go with whatever looks best to you.

[RandyT]

If you are using a large CRT, then a dark tinted window has another very nice advantage... When playing vertical games on a horizontally oriented monitor, it doesn't appear to the player that the screen is pasted in the middle of a monitor with the incorrect orientation.  A 27" monitor will provide a vertical game image which is very close to 19" and the dark plexi hides everything but the actual game image.  You really don't even need a screen bezel.  This is also a benefit for those who may not have room for one, based on the monitor/cabinet width.

[processedmeat]

I'm using a 1/8 tinted and 1/8 clear acrylic sandwich for my lcd monitor.  It was cheaper than getting 1/4" thick tinted to reduce the wobble if you get a thin sheet of acrylic and also you can slide an instruction card in between. 

I know people have their individual preferences regarding the bezel glass but I like the tinted since it hides the monitor when the cabinet is not in use.

[RabidRabit]

It's such a sticky situation for me.  I need to get glass for a MAME cab.  I'd like to get a piece that will negate the need for a bezel.  I can get a sheet of 3/16" from onedayglass.com for $68 shipped but it I can only get it in "light grey" if I want it tinted but I don't know if that would be too light for what I want.  For $99 I can get a 1/4" piece in "dark grey" but I have no idea if that would be too dark...or even too light for that matter...I have no idea.  It seems that the safest route for me would be to just go clear and make a bezel or slap some black paint on the back of the glass?

Anyone have any experience with either of these two nondescript tints that might shed a little light on the matter?

[DarakuTenshi]

I'm using a 1/8 tinted and 1/8 clear acrylic sandwich for my lcd monitor.  It was cheaper than getting 1/4" thick tinted to reduce the wobble if you get a thin sheet of acrylic and also you can slide an instruction card in between. 

I know people have their individual preferences regarding the bezel glass but I like the tinted since it hides the monitor when the cabinet is not in use.

I'm actually glad you mentioned that because that thought actually crossed my mind.

[kiwasabi]

It's such a sticky situation for me.  I need to get glass for a MAME cab.  I'd like to get a piece that will negate the need for a bezel.  I can get a sheet of 3/16" from onedayglass.com for $68 shipped but it I can only get it in "light grey" if I want it tinted but I don't know if that would be too light for what I want.  For $99 I can get a 1/4" piece in "dark grey" but I have no idea if that would be too dark...or even too light for that matter...I have no idea.  It seems that the safest route for me would be to just go clear and make a bezel or slap some black paint on the back of the glass?

Anyone have any experience with either of these two nondescript tints that might shed a little light on the matter?

That's expensive for glass. I just got a couple quotes for $50 and $60 for 1/4" tempered glass locally in Denver. A friend actually called for me so I'm not sure if that's tinted or not.

A cardboard bezel is actually pretty easy to make with a box cutter and some black poster/matte board. You really just measure and cut the outer rectangle that it fits into, and the inner rectangle for the monitor. Also, if you have certain size monitors then Suzohapp actually sells really nice plastic bezels you can use. My machine is a 24" widescreen though and they only have one for a 27"

[zanna5910]

DONT use the tinted lexan that is bronze colored. 

I've used clear plexi and smoke tinted tempered glass and like the look of the tinted glass better.  FWIW, I'm using a 26" led with a black painted wood bezel then the smoke glass on top.  I even wish I went darker with the tint.

[mgb]

I have tinted acrylic. I prefer the tinted for the looks and I think it makes the screen look a bit better.
plus, like already said, it does help to cover screen burn a little on older monitors.
Personally I prefer glass over acrylic and I plan on changing at some point. It was just so much cheaper for shipping on the acrylic.

[DarakuTenshi]

So there are a few pros and cons, but what it really comes down to is preference.

[leapinlew]

So there are a few pros and cons, but what it really comes down to is preference.

It's a fact that using tinted glass is better for every conceivable reason. 

[lcmgadgets]

Haven't I heard that if u want an Aimtrak gun u can't put the receiver behind tinted glass? 

[Dawgz Rule]

Haven't I heard that if u want an Aimtrak gun u can't put the receiver behind tinted glass?

Negative.  I have tinted glass and the aimtrak works fine.

+1 to tinted glass.  Makes the cabinet looked more polished IMO and I do think it makes the colors really pop.

[DarakuTenshi]

I'm thinking of using the Top Gun II, but I don't see tinted glass being an issue for it either.

[ark_ader]

I hear you can get into trouble in NY for using it.

[PL1]

I hear you can get into trouble in NY for using it.

Only on cockpit builds.   


Scott

[kiwasabi]

What level of tinting do you guys recommend for  the monitor glass? The place I spoke to just has the regular gray for $8 or the really dark level 13 stuff for about $15. I will have a black cardboard bezel around my 24" LED monitor so I'm not sure there's much I'd have to hide.

[Dawgz Rule]

I went with graylite 31.  The greylite 14 was simply too dark IMO.  Here are some links to compare:

http://www.grayglass.net/product.cfm/GrayGlass/GRAYLITE-14/product_id/4173

http://www.grayglass.net/product.cfm/GrayGlass/GRAYLITE-31/product_id/4174

[kiwasabi]

Thanks for those links, Dawgz Rule, I can see how the 13 would be way too dark. I ended up finding out my printer can print directly onto both plexi and glass, so I'm just going to have a bezel and artwork printed directly on the bezel glass and have it clear where the monitor's screen is at. It's an LED monitor so I won't have any screen burn to hide.

[lostboy4480]

That's expensive for glass. I just got a couple quotes for $50 and $60 for 1/4" tempered glass locally in Denver. A friend actually called for me so I'm not sure if that's tinted or not.

A cardboard bezel is actually pretty easy to make with a box cutter and some black poster/matte board. You really just measure and cut the outer rectangle that it fits into, and the inner rectangle for the monitor. Also, if you have certain size monitors then Suzohapp actually sells really nice plastic bezels you can use. My machine is a 24" widescreen though and they only have one for a 27"
[/quote]

kiwasabi,

May I ask where in Denver you got that quote as I not have a couple of cabs I need to cover.

Thank you

[DarakuTenshi]

Hey Lostboy.

It seems you have some experience with making a bezel the way I plan on doing it. What is the best way to doing this with accuracy? I'm afraid that I'm going to cut it off centered and make it look like garbage.