Why tinted glass?

[Gradius]

I mean, what's the reason for installing tinted glass in front of the monitor? Doesn't it darken the picture too much? Therefore, don't you lose a lot of details in the darker colors. I don't like that idea because I want to be able to see all the colors that the game display, even those close to black. Do you turn the bright of your monitor to the max to compensate this?

[Minwah]

Because it looks great

The glass I have is not dark enough to dull the colours too much (though of course they are slightly darker).  I think I turned my brightness up slightly (certainly not up to max) when I fitted the glass.

The best thing about it is that the area around the lit-up part of the monitor *do* look quite dark.  This is great in particular when playing vertical games on a horizontal screen, as the unused area of the screen is hardly visible.

[ras2a]

In the words of the great (and sexy) ex-singer 'Billie Piper' and the soon to be new Doctor Who companion: "Because we want to, Because we want to"

Seriously though, what Minwah said.  Just got mine and it looks ace!

[Minwah]

Seriously though, what Minwah said.  Just got mine and it looks ace!

Cool, you sorted it then...did you just go for it in the end?  Did you get any option for % tint?

[RayB]

Why? Cuz it darkens out everything else, like monitor mounting bolts, etc...

And then YES, you compensate by turning up the brightness.

[fredster]

It hides burn in on Arcade machine monitors.

It also hides bad bezels and trim, and it doesn't require artwork.  It makes the pic look like it appears out of nowhere.

That's the reasons I find for it.

You can pump up the picture and adjust the color through the tint.

[jdjuggler]

Probably have to go to a local glass shop to get tinted plexi, right?
Has anyone put instruction cards or other info underneath their tinted plexi?  And, can it be seen okay?

What is everyone % of tint?  And, do they think it should be lighter or darker.
I'll be using a Betson/Imperial 27".
Thanks,
JD

[Tilzs]

See for yourself.

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/smoked/

[subzero23]

I'm definately doing what oscar did
how much was that? or how much should smoked plexi cost?
will it darken the surrounding enough that no one will see a bootleg/homemade bezel?

[ras2a]

Seriously though, what Minwah said.  Just got mine and it looks ace!

Cool, you sorted it then...did you just go for it in the end?  Did you get any option for % tint?

Sure did, but couldn't find any options for trasmission ratings (% etc).  just opted for the 'grey' they had in.  Got a piece 4mm thick (tempered too).  I've yet to see what it looks like in front of 'my' though as my TV hasn't arrived yet.- Bought a 25" Sony Trinitron telly off ebay (

[fredster]

You can buy it like that at a glass shop, most of the time it's special order.

You can whip one up with tinting from an autoparts store.

[SteveJ34]

Where do most find tinted plexi/lexan? Does one need to go to a glass shop?

I don't recall ever seeing it at Home Depot, Lowes, or similar establishments.....

[deadmoney5]

I've NEVER seen tinted plexi or Lexan at local retailers

[pocketbikez]

i would never use tinted glass or lexan. i wouldnt want to lose any of the brightness and color intensity from the monitor. I try to start out with a happ controls monitor bezel and make every look nice instead of needing tinted glass to hide a crappy monitor mount or bezel install. I have real spyhunter and APB arcade machines and they both have clear glass bezels.

go team CLEAR!!! hip hip Horay!!! give me a C, give me a L, gime me an E, give me an A, give me an R, what does it spell?!?!? CLEAR, CLEAR CLEAR!!!!! lololol

[Minwah]

i would never use tinted glass or lexan. i wouldnt want to lose any of the brightness and color intensity from the monitor. I try to start out with a happ controls monitor bezel and make every look nice instead of needing tinted glass to hide a crappy monitor mount or bezel install. I have real spyhunter and APB arcade machines and they both have clear glass bezels.

I hear what you're saying...partly.  I have a lovely hand-crafted bezel (which took months to make   ) so I have nothing to hide in that respect.  But it is still nice to hide the unused parts of the screen (borders on vert. games).  And the bezel shows up in the light anyway

[dreamcastninja]

smoked plexi hides bad bezel jobs, that was teh whole intent of it. real men use clear!

[mmmPeanutButter]

Has anyone put instruction cards or other info underneath their tinted plexi?  And, can it be seen okay?

I've got tinted plexy and then there will be clear glass on the outside.  I'm going this route cause I really like the glass, but I wanted the tinting too.  The bezel artwork will be sandwiched in between so it wont be hidden at all.  I just placed the order for the bezel today, but I'll be posting pics once its ready.

(has anybody done this and determined that it was a terrible idea??)

[Gunstar Hero]

smoked plexi hides bad bezel jobs, that was teh whole intent of it. real men use clear!

So says the guy with an X-Arcade strapped to the front of his cab. LOL.

But I gotta agree, tinted/smoked glass looks good, but clear looks authentic.

[Chester]

I'm at that 99% finished point in my cab (only have to mount the marquee), and I installed smoked plexi on mine, and it looks great (to echo what's been said). You do have to fiddle with the monitor controls a little to get the colors and brightness up to compensate for the dark glass. It's not too difficult, and it really looks awesome.

I have run into one problem, tho. My ACT-LABS lightgun (VGA model) doesn't like the tinted glass. It simply won't work through it. I've searched the archives and found similar instances where some had the same problem and others had no problem at all. My monitor front surface only sits about 1" from the front (outside) of the glass, so I don't think that's an issue. I wish I knew what exactly was the problem and how to fix it. If you have a lightgun, this may enter into your decision-making process.

Chester

[shmokes]

It seems to me that the smoked glass sharpens the picture as well.  I plan to use it.  I think that Oscar's pictures speak for themselves.

[Minwah]

smoked plexi hides bad bezel jobs, that was teh whole intent of it. real men use clear!

Wrong!  I can honestly say my bezel is nearly perfect, exactly as intended (see it here: http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=18812;start=40 )

I think it looks great, but I still love the tinted glass!

Maybe some tints are so dark you can't see *anything* except the image through it.  I can still see through my glass and so the bezel is still visible.  I think mounting bolts etc. would easily show through if I hadn't hid them.

[Minwah]

Sure did, but couldn't find any options for trasmission ratings (% etc).  just opted for the 'grey' they had in.  Got a piece 4mm thick (tempered too).  I've yet to see what it looks like in front of 'my' though as my TV hasn't arrived yet.- Bought a 25" Sony Trinitron telly off ebay (

[ras2a]

Sure did, but couldn't find any options for trasmission ratings (% etc).  just opted for the 'grey' they had in.  Got a piece 4mm thick (tempered too).  I've yet to see what it looks like in front of 'my' though as my TV hasn't arrived yet.- Bought a 25" Sony Trinitron telly off ebay (

[Minwah]

I would but all my 'gear' is at my bro's as we are having MAJOR work done in our gaff at the moment!.  I may take it round this weekend and check it out.  I'm hoping that this project is TOTALLY completed in the few weeks (before Christmas deffo...fingers and toes crossed)

I was hoping that this time last year...and I'm still going!  

[kujina]

Would the best choice be anti reflective, tinted glass like used in shop windows?
An even bigger question would be where to get it from?

[ras2a]

I would but all my 'gear' is at my bro's as we are having MAJOR work done in our gaff at the moment!.  I may take it round this weekend and check it out.  I'm hoping that this project is TOTALLY completed in the few weeks (before Christmas deffo...fingers and toes crossed)

I was hoping that this time last year...and I'm still going!  

LOL...I know what ya mean mate.  Well it's mainly the wiring and stuff that needs doing.  Getting my brother to do all this as he's great with all thing electrical/electronic blah blah.  I think the main stumbling block for many folk is that they start a project and then buy what they need in dribs and drabs as they go along.  There's nothing wrong with this as most peeps can't afford to buy 'everything' immediately and there's ALWAYS summat you'll forget.  I am the world's worst for this.  But if I ever do another project (not likely...although... I'm gonna try and edeavour to get all componenets/bits before even starting.

I still 'think' it can be done for Christmas...

[teef two]

Well my cab came with lightly tinted glass so that's what I'm going with. A simple bezel made from mounting card will hide the monitor surround that's left showing.

[ChadTower]

Vector games almost require tinted glass... they look SO MUCH BETTER through the tint.

[ras2a]

Well my cab came with lightly tinted glass so that's what I'm going with. A simple bezel made from mounting card will hide the monitor surround that's left showing.

Yep, but what do you use as 'most' monitors/TVs have a curved (convex) profile at the front?  do you somehow force the card bezel around it to hide any 'gaps' at the sides or have you made one of the excellent cardboard bezels knocked up by Tailgunner?  I think I'll prolly go down that route!  Just ope it turns out ok...then there's the small matter of cutting a hole in it to ensure the remote sensor still receives a signal....I bet that's fiddly to do!  

[Minwah]

Yep, but what do you use as 'most' monitors/TVs have a curved (convex) profile at the front?  do you somehow force the card bezel around it to hide any 'gaps' at the sides or have you made one of the excellent cardboard bezels knocked up by Tailgunner?  I think I'll prolly go down that route!  Just ope it turns out ok...then there's the small matter of cutting a hole in it to ensure the remote sensor still receives a signal....I bet that's fiddly to do!  

I made mine (or rather my Mum did   ) sililarly to Tailgunner, but had the bezel go to the edge of the glass rather than to the edge of the screens image.  It is fecking hard to get it exactly right - took us about 5 months!  Looks ace though, I think I linked to a pic somewhere above...

[ras2a]

Yep, but what do you use as 'most' monitors/TVs have a curved (convex) profile at the front?  do you somehow force the card bezel around it to hide any 'gaps' at the sides or have you made one of the excellent cardboard bezels knocked up by Tailgunner?  I think I'll prolly go down that route!  Just ope it turns out ok...then there's the small matter of cutting a hole in it to ensure the remote sensor still receives a signal....I bet that's fiddly to do!  

I made mine (or rather my Mum did   ) sililarly to Tailgunner, but had the bezel go to the edge of the glass rather than to the edge of the screens image.  It is fecking hard to get it exactly right - took us about 5 months!  Looks ace though, I think I linked to a pic somewhere above...

I'd like to see that...if ya have the link.  But what's this about 5 months ?!?! I take it you were being ironic?

[Minwah]

I'd like to see that...if ya have the link.  But what's this about 5 months ?!?! I take it you were being ironic?

No it really took 5 months...but there were long breaks between sessions  

See the link of mine in a few replies up

[jdjuggler]

Can any of you that have the tinted plexi comment on the use of the ActLabs light gun?
If it doesn't work through the smoked plexi, that would be a deal killer for me.
Thanks.
JD

[Wade]

Has anyone put instruction cards or other info underneath their tinted plexi?  And, can it be seen okay?

I've got tinted plexy and then there will be clear glass on the outside.  I'm going this route cause I really like the glass, but I wanted the tinting too.  The bezel artwork will be sandwiched in between so it wont be hidden at all.  I just placed the order for the bezel today, but I'll be posting pics once its ready.

(has anybody done this and determined that it was a terrible idea??)

Assuming you like tinted glass this is a pretty good idea, I think.  It gives you the good looks of tempered glass vs. plexi (plexi can scratch easily and doesn't stay as shiny).  My Track and Field cocktail was like this from the factory (tinted plexi under tempered glass).

Wade

[JohnNevets]

Gee MinWAH, what is that grand front end you are showing off  inside of that bezel?    It looks like it would be really easy and fun to use.  How much did you pay for such a fine looking piece of software.



As has been said a thosand times before,

Thank You!!

John