Question: What is Best way to create Monitor Bezel ?

[Jabba]

Hello All,

I am finishing the last coat of paint and am finally ready to create the Bezel (I already have the acrylic mounted) for my new MAME cabinet. I was wondering the best way to create a clean "black" frame around the monitor (17").  I want some artwork there (i.e., game instructions, etc).

I was thinking :

a) Painting. What kind of paint have you used if you went this route? Does it look OK?

b) Using a stiff piece of black cardboard? Is this possible? Anyone do it?

c) Any other ideas?

I appreciate your opinion on this topic.

Thanks all,

Garry

[SirPeale]

I used poster board.  It's worked well on three cabinets so far.  @ .39 a sheet, it's quite cost effective.

[CM]

I just masked off the area (on the back-side of the plexiglass) I wanted viewable and sprayed-painted it with a flat-black paint.    The front side of the glass has a glossy-black professionally look.

[PacManFan]

I've used foam board from an art supply store with a clear piece of plexliglass over the front.

-PMF

[zorg]

maybee not what you are lookin for, but I guess it may be of some interest.
ther is a Bezel Creation Tutorial

[Santoro]

I just masked off the area (on the back-side of the plexiglass) I wanted viewable and sprayed-painted it with a flat-black paint.    The front side of the glass has a glossy-black professionally look.

I did the same with tinted safety glass.  I still can't believe how good it looks - the image sort of floats in front of you, and with horizontal games, the unused black space on the sides of the monitor is undetectable.



As usual, the picture does not do it justice.  It certainly isn't the cheapest method, but IMHO is the cleanest.