[Opinions / Critiques / Suggestions] Storm trooper Bar top Art

[efp9teen78]

Been doing this all with photoshop mix on my phone so may not be the best. But if anybody wants to take my starting point and take it to the finish line I'd appreciate it

[GSXRMovistar]

For me there's too many styles in the mix, not keen on the mix of both vector art (background) and photo stuff (stormtroopers and second SW logo) plus having both the old and new type stormtroopers.

However I do like the theme and think it has potential especially of you were to build it more around your avatar image:-



Loads of stormtrooper vector art available on the web and think you could put something rather cool together.


 

 

[efp9teen78]

I think I am gonna change the theme ever so slightly. In my search of vector images I was inspired by a few Kylo Ren Images that showed up in the more like this

[thomas_surles]

I'd go with the last one silhouette style. It's subtle, yet strong.

[efp9teen78]

I really like this but it will only work on the one side. I cant mirror the image and fix the text of "KYLO REN" to not be backwards not that good in GIMP or Photoshop. Also attached what i would use as a marquee.

[fcobenitez]

I was about to go to sleep, but I found your thread and decided to give it a go.
It was more like a test, to see if it was possible to mirror the image and make it work, I think it looks decent. If you are not in a hurry, I could help you with the vectors for the sideart, but it won't be too soon, sorry. Let me know what you think.
Also, about the marquee, I wouldn't reiterate the Kylo Ren face, maybe something more subtle like the sideart, or another distinctive element... Sorry for me not being clear, I'm falling asleep LOL

[efp9teen78]

Wow man that looks great to me not sure what you mean with the vextors. Thanks alot shoot me a pm if you want.

[vwalbridge]

The one above looks more like a Jason hockey mask to me.

[fcobenitez]

The one above looks more like a Jason hockey mask to me.

I know, it doesnt look like Kylo at first glance, I would like to modifiy it a little bit to make it more recognizable

Wow man that looks great to me not sure what you mean with the vextors. Thanks alot shoot me a pm if you want.

No problem man, I'm glad to be helpful.
Vector artwork means that it won't lose quality, no matter at what size you need it.
As I said in my previous post, I can help you making the sidearts with vector artwork, but it won't be anytime soon, sadly - real life comes first

[efp9teen78]

[/quote]

No problem man, I'm glad to be helpful.
Vector artwork means that it won't lose quality, no matter at what size you need it.
As I said in my previous post, I can help you making the sidearts with vector artwork, but it won't be anytime soon, sadly - real life comes first
[/quote]

Yeah I totally understand that. Im in no rush Ive been slowly working on this bartop and a cocktail cab for past year or more lil here and a lil there. Thankfully the cocktail cab is all but done just gonna leave it art free may add some woodgrain vynil to the sides make it look more like a piecce of furnture cause it does kinda pulld double duty as my lil dinning table apartment living at its finest

[efp9teen78]

[/quote]

No problem man, I'm glad to be helpful.
Vector artwork means that it won't lose quality, no matter at what size you need it.
As I said in my previous post, I can help you making the sidearts with vector artwork, but it won't be anytime soon, sadly - real life comes first
[/quote]

Yeah I totally understand that. Im in no rush Ive been slowly working on this bartop and a cocktail cab for past year or more lil here and a lil there. Thankfully the cocktail cab is all but done just gonna leave it art free may add some woodgrain vynil to the sides make it look more like a piecce of furnture cause it does kinda pulld double duty as my lil dinning table apartment living at its finest

[efp9teen78]

I know  I keep flip flopping but I think I have nailed down how I wanna do my cabs theme wise now just a matter of getting artwork together for them. Bartop is gonna go back to storm trooper theme. wanna try and come up with a x-wing vs tie fighter theme for the cocktail cab. And finally when I do my mini pin build its gonna be Kylo Ren themed seems fitting to me a Kylo Pin if you will.

With all that said my dilemma with the bartop is can i get the red background taken out of pic below then change the imperial cog to red  then leave background clear i have already put some blackwood grain on my side panels and would like to keep it visible in the background.

[mahuti]

One suggestion I would make generally as a designer:

Keep a little more breathing room between the heads and the edge. Any of the heads and any of the edges. When you put the edge and the subject right next to each other, it's called kissing. It creates a little bit of an issue visually as it creates a tension between the subject and the rest of the world, and it will make it tougher to cover any slight mistakes with the cabinet shape and application of the art. Either give it a little breathing room, or go ahead and push it over the edge just a bit.

I think generally, your last design is OK in this respect. But I noticed basically all of the initial designs were a little too tight. 

One other note:
I think you might want to add a little more detail to the gun, or greater contrast. Right now it doesn't read too well as a gun and just looks a little off. More contrast and a tiny bit more detail, or something like a small line around it to give it some separation from the storm trooper's head might help. This is a case where the hand being crammed right up on the edge is causing problems. It reads weird. Maybe pull the hand in a bit so that there's some breathing room there. Get rid of the gun's magazine (or whatever it is laying over the storm trooper's face).

[ivwshane]

I'm no designer but I'd move the storm trooper more to the left and lose the gun altogether. When I think of a storm trooper I picture their weapon in both hands at their waist. Your guy looks to metal gear like to me.

[efp9teen78]

I'm no designer but I'd move the storm trooper more to the left and lose the gun altogether. When I think of a storm trooper I picture their weapon in both hands at their waist. Your guy looks to metal gear like to me.

Noted and would also help with comment aboves suggestions with fixing the gun.  I am working on a solution currently. nothing like doing 100 things at once lol

I did do some work on a marquee posted below it has been loosely inspired by the The Simpsons Arcade Marquee

[mahuti]

I'd bump up the logo a bit more. Scale up and to the the left. Keep some breathing room, but pull a bit more to the left to give better  balance.

[efp9teen78]

Found another image I like and just strikes me as it was meant for a side panel. Now my dilemma is I cant seem to get it to scale right as I have it now it to open on bottom but if I scale it up I cant seem to get it to fit to my liking head off or gun get cut off etc.....

[efp9teen78]

I'd bump up the logo a bit more. Scale up and to the the left. Keep some breathing room, but pull a bit more to the left to give better  balance.

Did some adjustments on the marquee let me know if its going the right direction



Also did a quick mock up of another Control Panel not sure if I like it or not but maybe someone can give me yay or nay feed back

[yamatetsu]

3D Stormtrooper in the marquee, 2D on the control panel = clash of styles.

Also, if you use dustwashers, the right one probably will block part of the gun.

[efp9teen78]

3D Stormtrooper in the marquee, 2D on the control panel = clash of styles.

Also, if you use dustwashers, the right one probably will block part of the gun.

Couple more options which one do yall like more. I don't mind if the dust washer cover it a lil bit if you can still tell what the image is under it




I think i like this one more then option one

[GSXRMovistar]

Think you nailed it with this one personally:-



I'd recommend:
1) Reducing the size of the stormtrooper slightly to ensure sufficient gap between him and the edges of the cab (would also show a little more of his gun).
2) Do the CP in the same red with a minimal amount of artwork on it, just a few black lines for detail (possibly outlining the controls in some way)
3) All black controls/buttons
4) Front section of the CP add the start/credit buttons and possibly integrate the imperial logo somehow

Then with those mocked up I think the marquee will come easy.

[efp9teen78]

Think you nailed it with this one personally:-



I'd recommend:
1) Reducing the size of the stormtrooper slightly to ensure sufficient gap between him and the edges of the cab (would also show a little more of his gun).
2) Do the CP in the same red with a minimal amount of artwork on it, just a few black lines for detail (possibly outlining the controls in some way)
3) All black controls/buttons
4) Front section of the CP add the start/credit buttons and possibly integrate the imperial logo somehow

Then with those mocked up I think the marquee will come easy.

Here is what I came up with cant move it down any farther top of gun disappears past that hope the scale didn't make him to skinny



I will start doing a mock up for a control panel now

[gomeq]

Really like the side panel. As someone mentioned earlier. The vector style on the side panel conflicts with the style in de marquee and control panel.

I suggest you change the stormtrooper in the marque to a vectorized version with less details.

Also keep the design elements in the control panel to a minimum. Especially when you go for red buttons or led buttons

[efp9teen78]

Heres a couple side panels i did Friday be4 work i never posted

[yamatetsu]

I have googled 'deviantart' and 'imperial logo' and found a cool one. This would be my take on the CP :



The trooper needs to be integrated a bit better, but I like the look. Even if you don't like it, my suggestion would be to take your CP version #2 and put the logo in the middle and the trooper in it so that he isn't just floating around.

[GSXRMovistar]

Still keen on the vector look however I like that CP and as commented the trooper needs to be integrated a little better, maybe something like this so it appears he is stood within the logo:-



I'd then take this version of side art:-



* Swap out the trooper with the one used on the CP, assuming it's of a high enough resolution
* Change the background and logo colour to a suitable grey/black/white combo
* Slap on some white t-molding

 

[Bambam1963]

Been doing this all with photoshop mix on my phone so may not be the best. But if anybody wants to take my starting point and take it to the finish line I'd appreciate it

You have just inspired me to build two bartop retropi systems for my two boys.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Bambam1963]

Still keen on the vector look however I like that CP and as commented the trooper needs to be integrated a little better, maybe something like this so it appears he is stood within the logo:-



I'd then take this version of side art:-



* Swap out the trooper with the one used on the CP, assuming it's of a high enough resolution
* Change the background and logo colour to a suitable grey/black/white combo
* Slap on some white t-molding

 

I love the animated look



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[efp9teen78]

Been doing this all with photoshop mix on my phone so may not be the best. But if anybody wants to take my starting point and take it to the finish line I'd appreciate it

You have just inspired me to build two bartop retropi systems for my two boys.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Im glad I could inspire another build or two Id like to see your projects finished

[efp9teen78]

Still keen on the vector look however I like that CP and as commented the trooper needs to be integrated a little better, maybe something like this so it appears he is stood within the logo:-



I'd then take this version of side art:-



* Swap out the trooper with the one used on the CP, assuming it's of a high enough resolution
* Change the background and logo colour to a suitable grey/black/white combo
* Slap on some white t-molding

 

I dont think the CP Trooper is gonna be a high enough resolution and Id like to keep it more red then black. I have black t molding already so it may be easier to change the background of the cp to red. I will keep playing around with it some prolly wont be able to get it printed till early next funds seem to be squeezed extra tight this time of year

[efp9teen78]

Been messing around with the marquee someday Ill get this finalized guess better to go at it low and be happy in the end right. as always give me constructive critiqes and Ill try and use them I have been playing with sides too but no where near ready to share my progress on those

Option One

 


Option Two



Option Three



And lastly number Four

[efp9teen78]

I have done a whole set let me know of any changes that could or should be made. I really like where it is heading now just have to make sure no tweaks need to be made. Control Panel is my biggest concern it just seems to be lacking something just not sure what. As always helpful criticism is welcome sometimes having new eyes look upon it brings new ideas.

[opt2not]

Personally I'd make the Stormtrooper title bigger, and fill up the blank areas of the marquee more.
Overall I feel the marquee and CP is a bit plain , and could use something to spruce it up.
For the CP I'd experiment with a pattern under the control halos. Perhaps thin grid lines going out into perspective? You could try grid, hex, octi...

For the Marquee have you thought about adding a shadow line to the title? Perhaps in the same gray that's on the sides. A hard shadow line, not a blurred one. Something to help it pop more.

What about adding a starfeild to both the marquee and CP?

[efp9teen78]

Personally I'd make the Stormtrooper title bigger, and fill up the blank areas of the marquee more.
Overall I feel the marquee and CP is a bit plain , and could use something to spruce it up.
For the CP I'd experiment with a pattern under the control halos. Perhaps thin grid lines going out into perspective? You could try grid, hex, octi...

For the Marquee have you thought about adding a shadow line to the title? Perhaps in the same gray that's on the sides. A hard shadow line, not a blurred one. Something to help it pop more.

What about adding a starfeild to both the marquee and CP?

Good Ideas I definitely think the C.P. is to plain and Ill give your ideas a go not sure how I will pull off the grid idea but the others I think I can tackle Thanks for the feedback good sir

[efp9teen78]

Quick and sloppy color change with marquee better or worse? If its going the right direction Ill clean up some of the edges. The drop shadow definitely helps the title

[yamatetsu]

Worse. Since the dominant color will be black, adding a mostly white & grey marquee is not a good idea. Also take into account that the bezel will probably black, too.

Which one of these parts does not fit?

[efp9teen78]

Worse. Since the dominant color will be black, adding a mostly white & grey marquee is not a good idea. Also take into account that the bezel will probably black, too.

Which one of these parts does not fit?

Noted and makes tons of sense. I played around a little tonight after work and got this I am not sure may be a tad to busy now especially for a marquee and not sure how well it reads as a whole

[yotsuya]

Troopers look squished.

[yamatetsu]

They are under immense pressure.

[efp9teen78]

Here is another one using a different image of Troopers not sure if the style will clash with sides but they seem to fit in the allotted space of the marquee better lol

[yamatetsu]

I think the red is too prominent. And yep, the styles clash. I would ditch the logos and the red frame, so that the eye is caught by the 'Classic STORMTROOPER Arcade' bit, and not by a red frame.
Also, I would move the 'Classic' to the 'Arcade', so that you get STORMTROOPER - Classic Arcade, which would make a bit more sense. Finally, I would move the stormtroopers to the sides of the  STORMTROOPER - Classic Arcade bit, placing pics under it looks to busy IMHO.

I have fiddled around a bit. I am unable to do the outline for the Classic Arcade text, otherwise I would have done it in the style you used.



                                                               vs.






And something that definitely has the wrong style, but IMHO looks cool :

[efp9teen78]

I think the red is too prominent. And yep, the styles clash. I would ditch the logos and the red frame, so that the eye is caught by the 'Classic STORMTROOPER Arcade' bit, and not by a red frame.
Also, I would move the 'Classic' to the 'Arcade', so that you get STORMTROOPER - Classic Arcade, which would make a bit more sense. Finally, I would move the stormtroopers to the sides of the  STORMTROOPER - Classic Arcade bit, placing pics under it looks to busy IMHO.

I have fiddled around a bit. I am unable to do the outline for the Classic Arcade text, otherwise I would have done it in the style you used.



                                                               vs.

Wow that turned out nice. Not the troopers from the sides that this has been based on so not sure if that clashes. and I had just been using the Echo Base marquee as the template for this. With your blessing I will do some mods to this but defiantly like what you have done in a matter of no time this stuff takes me hours upon hours spread of days lol

And something that definitely has the wrong style, but IMHO looks cool :

Yeah this one is kinda cool even with the Norte Dame fighting Irish inspired Trooper and Lord Vader. Big U of M fan so cant justify using it lol

[yamatetsu]

With your blessing I will do some mods to this but defiantly like what you have done in a matter of no time this stuff takes me hours upon hours spread of days lol

Heh. I only could do it 'in a matter of no time' because I basically traced your pic. Were I to do this completely on my own, I would probably not be able to.
Mod merrily away, there is always room for improvement 

[efp9teen78]

Heres what I have come up with. I really like this hopefully we have a winner but if any changes need be made to make it that much better so be it. Thanks to yamatetsu for his quick rendition and blessing to modify it definitely got me thinking in another direction. Took some time cleaning up the classic arcade surround border made it more of a solid line 




As always helpful critiques or all out that sucks throw it out and burn it  start over are welcome

[yamatetsu]

I would make the red border a tad thinner, it's a bit too dominant for my taste. No other niggles, this looks good.
Keep in mind though that if you use marquee holders, they will obscure the upper and the lower part of the marquee.

[BorgDog]

I used some aluminum edge similar to the pic below on my last couple builds, only about 1/8" overhang so minimal art coverage.  I also angle cut the wood behind it so light could also get almost all the way to that are.  Found at my local home center, came in 8' lengths.

[efp9teen78]

I would make the red border a tad thinner, it's a bit too dominant for my taste. No other niggles, this looks good.
Keep in mind though that if you use marquee holders, they will obscure the upper and the lower part of the marquee.

Thats is an easy fix. And I was or am aware that the marquee retainers will block some the art. Should only lose the top of the empire cog and the waist line of the troopers or i could shrink the art a tad and add blank space above and below it. Gonna be a few weeks still be4 I will be able to search out a print on this plus still have to tackle the control panel.

I used some aluminum edge similar to the pic below on my last couple builds, only about 1/8" overhang so minimal art coverage.  I also angle cut the wood behind it so light could also get almost all the way to that are.  Found at my local home center, came in 8' lengths.

This is all for a widescreen bartop ordered from the great Haruman Customs which he kindly included a couple  black plastic L brackets to use as marquee retainers but thanks for the option
 

[efp9teen78]

Reduced the red border in the marquee it does look better. Control Panel is little better too not sure what direction to go with it

[yamatetsu]

CP.




Bezel.




Everything combined.

[efp9teen78]

CP.




Bezel.




Everything combined.

Man this is awesome thanks very much for helping out I will have to modify the button surround colors a tad I have Black buttons but thats an easy enough task.  Now I have to try and find some Imperial Cog speaker grill covers to pull it all together

[yamatetsu]

I have Black buttons

I figured that from your CP version. This is my subtle way to point out that since the stormtrooper armor and the 'stormtrooper' text in the marquee are white, white buttons and joysticks with white balltops / black dustwashers IMHO would fit better 

If you use white buttons, you could take both the black and the white buttons apart and put the white plungers into the black buttons, so that on the CP you only need a white/red outline instead of a black/white/red one. It would make the outlines a bit smaller.

[opt2not]

I've been lurking since I last gave you feedback to see where you're heading, as well as get others to chime in. Seems like a decent path, but I have a few more pointers.

Marquee
- Title font looks too vertically stretched. Try reducing the vertical scale so that each letter has a more 2:3 ratio. Right now it's more of a 2:1

- I'm not a fan of reusing the same visual elements of the sides here. Is there another image you can try? How about a forward facing, close-up of a Stormtrooper's helmet? Doesn't even need to be the full face. You could crop half of it on the edge.

- Symmetry is lazy. You can find balance with a different image without have to copy/mirror the same element to both sides. How about a storm trooper carrier ship on one side? Or something else that equally as big and has the same "value" of the other image.


CP
- Try thinner grid lines. Right now it's a bit too heavy and overbearing. Play around with matching the button halo line width as well.
- give the grid a fade to black the further away in perspective it goes
- increase the perspective a little more as if it's going off into the distant horizon. Try lowering the horizon too
- I'm not a fan of the matrix light things on the CP, but if you like them who am I to judge?

Hope this helps.

[yamatetsu]

I'm not a fan of the matrix light things on the CP, but if you like them who am I to judge?

I added those because they occur on the sides and on the marquee, so they become the element that ties everything together.

[opt2not]

I added those because they occur on the sides and on the marquee, so they become the element that ties everything together.

I see what you were trying to do. But you can tie the theme together without hitting the audience over the head with one visual element. Using elements over and over for separate parts trying to tie things together comes off bland and shallow in the design. I would try to progress those elements, evolve them more into something that still maintains the basics of the thing but is different enough to not seem lazy

[yamatetsu]

Using elements over and over for separate parts trying to tie things together comes off bland and shallow in the design. I would try to progress those elements, evolve them more into something that still maintains the basics of the thing but is different enough to not seem lazy

Well, unfortunately this is not laziness but the extent of my abilities 

efp9teen78 : If you like my design, use it, but I strongly advise you to listen to opt2not's comments, he is a great artist and he knows what he is talking about.

[efp9teen78]

efp9teen78 : If you like my design, use it, but I strongly advise you to listen to opt2not's comments, he is a great artist and he knows what he is talking about.

I do like what you have done and will take opt2nots advice to heart and see what I can do to make it better. Like you my skills are about maxed out but with all the playing around I like to believe I have been improving.

I cant thank you enough for all the work you have provided to this point

[efp9teen78]

Did some work to modify the marquee good bad or burn it lol

[yamatetsu]

I cant thank you enough for all the work you have provided to this point

Glad that I could help.

Did some work to modify the marquee good bad or burn it lol

- Symmetry is lazy. You can find balance with a different image without have to copy/mirror the same element to both sides.

#bad

A completely different idea. I don't know if it's possible, but how about only using the logos, drilling a big hole in the middle, six smaller holes inside the logo and putting the speakers behind them?

[markc74]

Why not scrap the graphics on either side of the marquee and just use the "Stormtrooper/Classic arcade" text with the border as you have it. There's already graphics all over the cabinet, I'm not sure it needs more iconography. White space (or in this case black!) would make the name stand out more. I always thought the Star wars logo looked pretty good as is. Sometimes less is more...

Just my 2p.

[Mike A]

What he said^^^

[krangbrain]

Looks like you still have a few adjustments for the marquee and CPO, but I'm happy that you settled on the stormtrooper in the last rendition. Definitely better than the others IMHO. Looking very nice!

[n3wt0n]

I like what you had done in post #47 as far as the sides and the control panel are concerned but personally I would try Marks advice and just put the title of the game in the marquee area using the non-stretched out version of the title. I am definitely a less is more person so I think losing the characters or glyphs that have been used elsewhere in the marquee area would be a good thing but Opt and yamatetsu make some great points and provide some good options.

Did some work to modify the marquee good bad or burn it lol

[efp9teen78]

Ok I did just the the name marquee. I used the classic arcade that way I could use some of the work yamatetsu helped me with. Let me know if the scales are off in either direction

[efp9teen78]

 

I like what you had done in post #47 as far as the sides and the control panel are concerned

Did some slight modifications to the CP mostly color swaps added a slight "Easter Egg"

 

And the newest bundle to see how it all goes and flows or doesnt?? together

[n3wt0n]

I think that looks like a nice artwork package when you put it all together like that but honestly, I liked the old control panel better before you switched the grey/black around the joysticks and added the red circle... but again, less is usually more to me.

[efp9teen78]

Another edit I know its endless but wanna get it right. The just title marquee seem to blah for me. Only thing thing with this one is the double Trooper Cog not sure what else I could use for the other side. Kinda has to be a circle cause Ill admit is it just the Echo Base Marquee with color swaps and title swap

[Mike A]

You were headed in the right direction...until you swerved into a ditch and hit a tree. An explosive tree. Doused in gasoline.

[efp9teen78]

You were headed in the right direction...until you swerved into a ditch and hit a tree. An explosive tree. Doused in gasoline.

LOL that bad huh at least its still in the work out all the kinks steps and not been sent off to the printers yet.

What in particular is so bad the newest marquee edit or something else?

[Mike A]

I was just being a smart ass. I really liked the super simple marquee.

[Mike A]

I think the proportions were still a little off on it, but I am no artist. The new one is not objectively bad. I just prefer the other one.

[efp9teen78]

I was just being a smart ass. I really liked the super simple marquee.

Its all good I am just playing around with this stuff before work every day. Kinda throwing darts at the wall till something sticks.

And i just resized the new marquee to the actual size of the marquee its going to be in and it looks like garbage and worse yet doesn't flow with the whole set I placed in the bundle pic

I think the proportions were still a little off on it, but I am no artist. The new one is not objectively bad. I just prefer the other one.

Yeah I am not sure its scaled right either but thats easy fix with all the saved templates I have for it

[yotsuya]

Don't fret, bro. As long as it plays Galaga...

[efp9teen78]

Don't fret, bro. As long as it plays Galaga...

It will I am not very good at that one but it will play it

did some more tweaking of the marquee and combined it it with the CP that n3wton liked



bundle

[yamatetsu]

The forum does not allow me to post the pics in their original size, so these look shittier than they actually are. I have attached the original pics so that you may see them in all their glory.

[yotsuya]

I don't like the Storm Trooper on the control panel.

[Mike A]

Yeah. It looks like the Storm Trooper is photobombing the CP.

[yamatetsu]

I don't like the Storm Trooper on the control panel.

Yeah. It looks like the Storm Trooper is photobombing the CP.

Mike A. Yotsuya realized that he was lost in space. His brothers in arms had left him behind. A single tear ran down his cheek.

[Mike A]

Eh?

[yamatetsu]

Eh?

A stormtrooper, all alone in space. Nobody likes him. He is sad. His name? An amalgam of the people who want him gone.

[n3wt0n]

I like the addition of the starfield in the background but agree that the storm trooper on the CP is out of place. I also think it all comes together better with the grey things around the joysticks.

[Mike A]

Got it. I attributed the pronoun "he" to Yots and not to the stormtrooper.

[yamatetsu]

Changed the CP to include the imperial logos like n3wt0n suggested. Also changed the halos around the buttons. Yep, that definitely looks better.

[efp9teen78]

Man yamatetsu that is awesome work the sides need a lil touch up work where the overlap in images are two different shades of black but Ill play around with that when  I have some free time. I cant stress enough how grateful I am and have been for all your input and actually time you've put working on this with and or for me. I agree with newton it looks better with the Cogs on the CP and also like the bigger halo borders around the buttons

I don't like the Storm Trooper on the control panel.

Yeah. It looks like the Storm Trooper is photobombing the CP.

Mike A. Yotsuya realized that he was lost in space. His brothers in arms had left him behind. A single tear ran down his cheek.

This whole exchange of posts had me rolling in laughter

[Mike A]

What does laughter feel like when you roll in it? Is it sticky?

[BorgDog]

So I may have missed it somewhere, but the grey piece on the side in front of the trooper just look odd and out of place to me.  What the heck is it supposed to be? has no context.  Other then that the last iteration is looking good, although I might be tempted to take the grey background out of the marquee behind the "STORMTROOPER" and just have more starfield there.

[efp9teen78]

So I may have missed it somewhere, but the grey piece on the side in front of the trooper just look odd and out of place to me.  What the heck is it supposed to be? has no context.  Other then that the last iteration is looking good, although I might be tempted to take the grey background out of the marquee behind the "STORMTROOPER" and just have more starfield there.

Here is the original pic that the Trooper on the side panels came from

[n3wt0n]

Changed the CP to include the imperial logos like n3wt0n suggested. Also changed the halos around the buttons. Yep, that definitely looks better.

I really like how all the pieces come together now! Nice job.

[efp9teen78]

I did some tweaks to the side but I dont know or have the same space background that Yamatetsu used so that is different. If anybody wants the .xcf gimp layer of just the troopers let me know there has to be a way I can share that

[yamatetsu]

I did some tweaks to the side but I dont know or have the same space background that Yamatetsu used so that is different

Just google "starfield dadrian". It's on deviantart, there's an option to download a high res pic, I couldn't get that to work, though. Maybe it's because I don't allow cookies.

[efp9teen78]

Just google "starfield dadrian". It's on deviantart, there's an option to download a high res pic, I couldn't get that to work, though. Maybe it's because I don't allow cookies.
[/quote]


Awesome man found it or one very similar to it heres the bunch with my personal tweaks. I think its nearing the cant get much better and final forms, Now to save up my pennies and collect some empty pop cans gotta love the Michigan deposit policy lol. So I can end these off to be printed. Just to move my focus onto nailing down art for the cocktail cab then on to starting the virtual/visual pinball cab. Then Im sure friends will start requesting me to tackle cabs for them

Marquee


CP


Side


Bundle without bezel cover (not much can be done to change that lol)

[yamatetsu]

Another spin. Added shadows to the marquee, killed the trooper and the logo on the sides. Some other trooper showed up.
Click on the pics to see them at 1600 x something.

efp9teen78: I think the logos and the button halos on your CP version are too big. No need for the left logo to be so huge that it doesn't even fit on the CP, no need for both logos to intersect with the button halos. Finally IMHO the button halos should be a bit smaller, they are a tad too much in your face at the current size.

[yotsuya]

Yam, I like the shadow on the marquee.  It's getting there.

[efp9teen78]

I dont like the Ghost or inverted or photo negative look of the trooper on the side

Heres my take on that style side art 



Here is some modifications done to CP



And the Bundle  with Yams latest marquee mod

[yamatetsu]

I (surprisingly) disagree with the choice of the trooper helmet, the red halo around the logos and the buttons is a real good idea. This is hands down the best CP version and IMHO a keeper.
If you are going to use the trooper, don't let the starfield shine through, it looks a bit like he has pockmarks.

[efp9teen78]

I (surprisingly) disagree with the choice of the trooper helmet, the red halo around the logos and the buttons is a real good idea. This is hands down the best CP version and IMHO a keeper.
If you are going to use the trooper, don't let the starfield shine through, it looks a bit like he has pockmarks.

Is the only reason you didnt like the trooper bucket cause the star field shining thru if so I did some sharpening up of it made it less see thru.


 Glad the CP is a keeper and I think your Marquee is also a keeper along with the bezel surround may only possible change to that is may be how thick or narrow it is have to get some measurements on that

[yamatetsu]

Nope, the reason I don't like the trooper helmet is because this is your single piece of art and you chose a generic piece of which you can find dozens of variations without even looking. I would rather go with something unique, if something suitable can be found.

If it has to be the helmet, I would use the first version but make the helmet a bit smaller, so that it fits better into the logo. I can't see any reason to make the logo & the helmet even bigger so that the helmet does get clipped. Too much into your face and totally unneccessary.

[efp9teen78]

Got it and makes sense. Hasnt been a total loss the Trooper Cog has been combined with starfield background without the side panel overlay template and has been set s my laptop desktop background lol

[efp9teen78]

New side not sure if background works kinda drowns out his E-11 Blaster any other tweaks needed let me know



And as always the bundle

[BorgDog]

I like it, but I kinda miss the big red cog.

[yamatetsu]

The trooper looks a lousy as I had to cut him out from efp9teen78's jpg pic and then resize him, but you get the drift.

[efp9teen78]

Thanks Yam yeah I got where you where heading heres my take not sure the cog is scaled right on it

[yamatetsu]

Thanks Yam yeah I got where you where heading heres my take not sure the cog is scaled right on it

Looks good to me.

The cog's lines are looking very rugged. Are you using a vectorized logo?

[efp9teen78]

 

The cog's lines are looking very rugged. Are you using a vectorized logo?
[/quote]


I thought it was I found it by googling vector images 

[yamatetsu]

I thought it was I found it by googling vector images 

Nope, whoever made that image made it in vector format, but the pic he posted is in a raster format (probably .jpg). You can stretch a vector image to any size you want, it will always retain its crisp lines. If you stretch a raster image, you will get quality loss. The more you stretch it, the lousier it will look.
Take a look at the cog in my pic. Clean, crisp lines. Now look at the trooper. He doesn't look as sharp because I had to cut him out from your pic and then stretch him to more than double size.

There are programs that turn raster images into vector format. Mostly the results are crap, but it would work for something simple like the cog.