Thougths on artwork? (INVADER)

[jfunk]

As I'm working on the various bits and pieces of my cabinet (painting and the like), I'd really like to get my art design under way.

As you can see in this thread

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,33700.0.html

I'm building a UAII cab..  I'm thinking of painting the bottom half green and using black t-molding, with the top half in black and using green t-molding.  I've got ideas for my sideart and marquee..  Here's a really bad mockup 



I'm trying to stay very simple.  I want it to have a classic feel with a modern look..?  Make sense?    I like the look of this space invader graphic with the color fades...



Of course, I'll need to vectorize it, and I have no idea how to do the fades with vectors, but I'll cross that bridge later    Then, my poor first-mockup of the marquee is:



I want it more 'menacing' than that, though..  Like the word INVADER is coming towards Earth..  Probably a different font..?  And this is TOTALLY not the right dimensions..  Just getting a feel for what I want...

I have no real thoughts on my control panel, yet..  You can see how it's laid out in my project thread.  I'm thinking I'll put the INVADER text circled with 'spokes' coming out to the different controls.  This'll be in the big open area..  Maybe..?  The admin buttons will be on a board right under the monitor.  Black start/coin buttons and green pause/exit..  Not sure if I'll do anything with those, or not.

And I'm not sure about the 'stenciled' INVADER on the bottom of the cab, either..  Just a thought.

Looking for any advice I can get.  I'm horrible with the art/graphics/creativity, but I'm trying my best 

Thanx for looking!!

[edited to change image links throughout thread - 20051128 - jfunk]

[jfunk]

2 more little bits of 'artwork' I did..  This one is my BIOS boot screen:



which hides the bios info when the computer is starting up, and here's my replacement XP boot screen...



The 'loading bar' I've just made black so it's not visible at all 

I like these enough that I'll probably keep them, unless they totally conflict with my final design.. 

I'll probably also work on creating my own MAMEWAH skins..  But that's later on 

Thanx!

[jfunk]

Well, I've just ordered by black and green t-molding from t-molding.com..  So it looks like the major design colors stay, although, I could still switch things around if needed..  Should have plenty of extra..

Still looking for any thoughts/advice?  Any tips for a graphics/artist wannabe?

Thanx!

[pmc]

I dig the BIOS screen although it's somewhat out of context with the Space Invaders theme.

- pmc

[jfunk]

Yeah, I know..  But when I thought of it, I couldn't pass it up..  Besides, it _is_ a multi-game system.. 

But, if I can think of something better, or somebody suggests something better, I'm open to change 

Thanx!

[RetroBorg]

I like the look of your cabinet and colour scheme etc, green is nice.

For you marquee though I would make the "A" in "INVADER" look like the "A" in "SPACE" in this picture:



Just a suggestion anyway, good luck.

[wallyhooker]

Looks cool.  I like your color scheme with lots of green on the base.   

i would go for consistency between the side art and the marquee.  Use a similar gradient in the marquee font, to get a color fade like your side art.  And maybe a more "computerized" looking depiction of earth, rather than a photo.

Wally

[jfunk]

Hrm.. I like that idea..

Maybe use a smaller image of the earth and blow it up really big so it's very pixelly...

I'm not sure how to do the fades with the lettering in PSP..  I guess I'll need to find out..  I also like the looks of that 'A', RetroBorg...  I'll have to see if I can add that, too 

Hrm...  Ideas, ideas...

Thanx!

[wallyhooker]

I was bored at work, so i whipped up a quick photoshop version of what it might look like with a pixelated earth.

[jfunk]

CLOSER!! 

The font, oddly enough, is called 'Arcade' 

http://www.dafont.com/en/alpha.php?lettre=a&page=25

Maybe I need to learn Photoshop    IF I could do it, here's what I'd change (again, dimensions are wrong, so that'd have to be "fixed" later...)

I'd make the letters bigger at the bottom..  Almost like it's coming towards Earth..   Maybe the fade could go from black/dark at the top to the lighter at the bottom for the same effect..?  Maybe even opposite those last 2, depending on how it looks..  However, I really do like the 3D effect given..   Hrmm..  Maybe drop the red in the globe    And a starfield..  I'd actually toyed with the idea of making the starfield out of small white 'invaders'..  Didn't know if that would be too cheesey, though 

Please don't feel like this is a request list    You've given me a great example to start with..  But, if you're still bored 

Also, any tutorials you know of to do text effects like what you've shown/I've described?  Maybe even for Paint Shop Pro? 

Thanx!!

[jfunk]

Looking at your mockup, again, it does look like you've got the idea of "heading towards earth" in there..  Subtle, but I like it 

Just thinking out loud 

Thanx.

[wallyhooker]

Looking at your mockup, again, it does look like you've got the idea of "heading towards earth" in there..

[jfunk]

I played with it a bit over lunch..  Not satisfied, but it's not horrible 



Can't figure out how to change the text like you did to make top or bottom larger/smaller..   Also, I've added the invader 'starfield'..  I think they should all be a lot smaller..  Either that, or they should be of differing sizes like they're scattered through 3d space..  I'll have to work on that..

You can dl the font here:

http://www.e-funk.net/arcade/invader/ARCADE.TTF

Thanx!

[wallyhooker]

I
Can't figure out how to change the text like you did to make top or bottom larger/smaller..

[toadman]

Hmm.. here's a slightly different take on the idea. Basically, instead of having the word "Invader" doing the invading of Earth, the concept is to use space invaders themselves, in a formation reminiscent of the game. The concept doesn't work great with the aspect ratio of a marquee, but like I said, it's just a quick image to get you thinking:



-jvp

[SideShow Rob]

Or you could compose the letters - INVADER , from the space invader graphics themselves, and using the replacement A from RetroBorgs idea earlier, to break the text effect up a little.

If you imagine every * being replaced by the space invader graphic, you will hopefully see what I mean:

***

[RetroBorg]

Invader with Alien:

[jfunk]

I might play with that a bit..  looks 'awkward' in the smaller dots..  maybe if the dots matched the other lettering..?

Hrm..

[RetroBorg]

Yeah, that's what I thought I'm looking for a matching font now.

[jfunk]

Yet another go...



I _really_ like this one..  Incorporates several suggestions and tips from this thread 

I think I like the idea of a full res Earth more than the pixellated one..  But the skew and other text techniques are great! 

Suggestions I've had so far:

- Text fades too much at the bottom, kinda hard to read 'VAD'...
- Perhaps a glow around the earth so it doesn't fade into the bg...
- Angle of 'invaders' could be improved..

I'm struggling with the first 2 suggestions..  I like the 'see through' aspect of the text, but don't want it hard to read..  hrm..  And I also like how the upper right of the globe fades into the bg, but i think the rest of it could use some outline.. 

However, with all of these suggestions, I'm beginning to reach the limits of my graphics abilities 

Any other thoughts/suggestions?  Is there too much 'white' on there for a lighted marquee?

The graphics look a TON better at the 300dpi on my computer..  Can't post that image, though    And this is the right dimensions..  24.5" x 7.25"...  So I'm definitely getting closer! 

Would love to hear thoughts/suggestions!

Thanx!

[wallyhooker]

looks pretty cool! 

You might change the angle of the invaders so they are all sliding under the green letters.  the two outer rows of invaders are at too high an angle.

Wally

[jfunk]

I think this will be the final version of my marquee, unless something is drastically wrong or somebody suggests something I just HAVE to have 



Here's the link to it at 800px wide..  (The forum sizes it at 640    )

http://www.e-funk.net/arcade/invader/images/marquee.jpg

Things that I changed from the last version:

- Changed angle of outside 'invaders'
- Added 'glow' around the Earth
- Added black 'border' to top and bottom..  Because the marquee holder should cover about 5/8" on the top and bottom of the marquee, and I didn't want it covering the cool stuff 

Anyways, I'd love to hear thoughts!  You can see the full 300dpi version here:

http://www.e-funk.net/arcade/invader/images/marquee_highres.jpg

It's a 1.4MB monster    The 'starfield' will look like crap, but it doesn't look to bad when you shrink it down to the size it'll be printed out at.  I hope it's good enough!!  Can anyone look at it and say whether or not it will print nicely?  (Probably will use mamemarquees.com...)

So, now, I have my sideart and my marquee!    Again, the side art will be the little invader guy in the first post.  Can anyone vectorize him for me?  I've given it a couple of shots, but PSP is hard to do this with, from what I can tell.  And I'm having trouble with the gradient    Should be REALLY easy to vector for someone good at it?   

Now, I need to start on my CPO.  I really have no good direction on this one.  You can see my CP in my project thread.  Any ideas?

Thanx for all the great help/tips/suggestions so far!!

[cholin]

Im no good at photoshop but I though Id throw in that I love the idea of your cabinet, it seems like it's gonna look amazing!

[Stu_C]

Had a quick go.... 

[oldsage]

Here's a quick try... Not sure if that's what you wanted...
If the res is not enough i can email you a EPS, SWF, PDF, AI, higher res JPG or PNG, or whatever...

[hyiu]

hi jfunk

when I look at your final version, I somehow got the impression that its not blended in smoothly... I got the first impression that its just layers plyed together... 

these are just my personal opinions, or what I would prefer if its me doing this....

I would definitely take the advise of the other guy suggested before and change the "A" in the middle to become an invader...

the one that I attach below should look close enough to like an "A"....

your word invader is fading at the bottom, but the invader does not fade... seems like a mis-match....
I think if the invaders also fade towards the earth a little, it might look better...

also... I will make the word INVADER a little shorter; OR make the invaders skew a little more, so that the word invaders doesn't cross the word... (or maybe after you faded the invader, it'll look better...)

those are what I think would make your pic better...

hope it helps...

[jfunk]

@Stu_C:  very nice!  Not quite the look I'm going for, but still very cool.  I'm a fan of simple, effective designs 

@hyiu: well, heh, it _is_ just several layers put together    again, my lack of graphic skills    I do like the idea of the invaders fading, as well.  I might have to play with that.  I'm not sold on the A being an invader, but I've honestly not given it a try.  I've had several comments about the word crossing the invaders..  I'll have to give it more thought.  I rather like it, but if it's seen as "busy" or "hard to read" by people viewing it, it'll defeat the purpose of having a nice marquee 

@oldsage:  almost perfect!  (I hate "nit-picking" work offered by others, but have found that most people take constructive criticism well, so forgive this)  The only thing that I like better about the original is the "fade pattern"..  Notice how it fades toward the darker color along ALL edges, not just those on the outside.  yours has the high-intensity green at the very center fading to dark only on the outmost edges. make sense?  Again, I have no clue how easy/hard/doable this is when vectorizing it 

Having said that, I'd LOVE a higher res version.  The .ai file would be great!

Thanx so much for all of the help/comments/criticisms, all!  I really need to at least think about my CPO soon... 

THANX!

[oldsage]

@oldsage:

[oldsage]

Sorry i haven't done it yet, I've just started serious work on my cab, and it'll take me a while to do your art better... Sorry...

[dphirschler]

On that invader above, the one with the radial gradient...

If you select all the shapes and make it a compound path before applying the gradient, then the gradient will be consistant across the whole shape.


Darryl

[oldsage]

On that invader above, the one with the radial gradient...

If you select all the shapes and make it a compound path before applying the gradient, then the gradient will be consistant across the whole shape.


Darryl

Ummm... What? I'm no artist, i just did this quick in flash... Are you talking about some photoshop thing???
I don't do much graphics, i only have a copy of flash 'cause i use actionscript...
Would you care to explain, or would you like me to send it to you so you can finish it or something... I think it would be best if someone that knows what is he doing do it, instead of myself... Lol...

[dphirschler]

I was talking in terms of Illustrator.

[countchocula8]

i think a combination of these 3 is a good idea:
1) toadman's overall layout


2)sideshowrob's idea of replacing the square blocks w/ the invaders

3)retroborg's replacing of the "A" with the big invader

on top of this, i would like to make a couple suggestions:
1)turn the forshortening of the word invader the other way (smaller on top then on bottom to match the side invaders in toadman's picture).  this way it will look like its heading towards earth.
2)get rid of the side invaders on toadman's picture and and maybe centerlize earth a little.

[jfunk]

@dphirschler:  That's definitely closer..  Still not quite it..  If you look at the original, it's like the brightest green is always in the internal part of the invader and the darker green is ALWAYS on the edges, even the inner ones...  Hard to explain, but it's an effect I like and wish I could duplicate!! 

@countchocula8:  I think making the a invader shaped AND making the blocks into invaders might be overkill?  A little too much?

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to focus on any of this, lately.  Been getting my cab ready for painting.  Will hopefully get it all painted and ready to go this weekend so I can do some serious graphics stuff for it in the next couple of weeks.

But please, keep the suggestions coming!  It can only get better! 

Still wondering if anybody has any good CPO ideas??  That's my biggest hangup. 

Thanx!

[countchocula8]

overkill....probably, but i got bored

[oldsage]

I was talking in terms of Illustrator.

[dphirschler]

@dphirschler:

[jfunk]

That's IT!!! 

Unfortunately, I'm not sure of the color, either.  I'm using the green t-molding from t-molding.com, and color matched my paint to it..  I'll see if I can figure out what color that is..

What format is that file?

THANX!!!

[dphirschler]

It's Illustrator (.ai).  PM me with your email address and I'll send the file your way.

On the color matching, try this.  Take a sample of the t-molding to a printer or the like (Kinko's?), maybe even the local college/university if they have an Art degree.  Match the color with a Pantone #.  Then you'll know you got it just right.


Darryl

[jfunk]

PM sent!  THANX!

I have the home depot paint can here..  It says:

Colorant             0Z           48            96
--------------------------------------------------
AX  Perm Yellow   2            10              1
B    Lamp Green   0              1              0
D    Thalo Green   0            13              0
KX   White            0            22              1

Any way that can help? 

It's not perfect, but it's close enough for me    I'm not sure it's necessary to get the invader to match the bottom paint, but I'd love to see how it looks.

Thanx, again!

[dphirschler]

Any way that can help?

[jfunk]

I'll give it a shot    Will take a while, though 

THANX!!