Control Panel --- Paint or Overlay?

[lisowskikevin]

Hey guys, just wondering what you have done re: your control panels. I have a sheet of 3/4 inch very smooth plywood and after a few coats of paint it actually looks really good yet I am pondering an overlay.

What's your opinion on overlays versus painted control panels?

[leapinlew]

Depends on the design\theme of the cabinet.

For the most part, I almost always use an overlay as I'm trying to make my arcade cabinets as authentic as possible and nearly all arcade games had some sort of overlay.

[mgb]

I'm partial to an overlay myself.
It gives an identity and originality to the machine.
Of course if you like the way a painted cp looks then that may be best for you.