Too much bezel, not enough monitor

[Gambit]

I used a 19" flat panel display for my standup.

It doesn't look bad, just not quite right.  There is about 4.5 inches of empty space on each side of the monitor.  Its not too small when you're playing, just looks a bit off when you stand back and look at the machine as a whole.

Can you think of anything to do that might minimize that open area somewhat?  Do you think graphics of some sort for a bezel?

For my bezel I used foam board to stiffen it, then painted black plexiglass over the foam board.  Looks great, nice and shiny.

[NightGod]

Dark colored glass/plexi will do wonders to hide that blank space.

[missioncontrol]

post a pic... I'd recommend a nice graphic, but not a whole buch of pictures just to fill space. That would also depend though on what your cabinet looks like.

[Sizzler]

I used a 19" flat panel display for my standup.

It doesn't look bad, just not quite right.  There is about 4.5 inches of empty space on each side of the monitor.  Its not too small when you're playing, just looks a bit off when you stand back and look at the machine as a whole.

Can you think of anything to do that might minimize that open area somewhat?

A 21" monitor?

[Gambit]

Here is my finished cabinet.  Complete with too tiny flat panel LCD monitor. The weird stuff you see in the glass is reflection.

[phil001]

Gambit, i know this is off topic but out of interest how does the 19"TFT look when playing games?
I have one to use, just wondered if it looked ok as i have head that they aren't good compared to monitors/TVs etc.

Thanks.

[gamecreature]

Artwork will do a great deal. By putting a large circle on mine, it created the illusion that things were bigger than they were. It also helped to tie the top with the bottom.

[missioncontrol]

gamecreature has the right idea... if you are going to put artwork on the bezel do something that is more or less artwork that stand on its own and can work with the existing artwork...

whatever you do don't just throw a bunch of game characters here and there... it has been done to death and really doesn't look as good because it takes away from the cabinets theme in most cases....

btw great job on yours gamecreature....

[ahofle]

Nice looking CP art.  You need a nice 3" blue translucent trackball in the center of that lightning pattern!

[missioncontrol]

I'm not sure if using more of that lightning theme would be too much for that cabinet or not... but you should use some of those blues in the bezel area....

[SithMaster]

Cant you just stretch the screen to fill in the wasted space.  this is assuming your refering to the black on the screen which i think you are.

[xonix_digital]

Just go buy a 24" LCD.

They're only like a grand or so.

-=XD=-

[Gambit]

Gambit, i know this is off topic but out of interest how does the 19"TFT look when playing games?
I have one to use, just wondered if it looked ok as i have head that they aren't good compared to monitors/TVs etc.

Thanks.

Looks really good, works perfect for modern games. For old arcade games I played Gridlee and it looked wonderful.

I tried Robby Roto and PolyPlay which have the really blockly graphics, and they did not look as good as the low resolution monitors make them look.

[Gambit]

Nice looking CP art.  You need a nice 3" blue translucent trackball in the center of that lightning pattern!

I should have added a tracball, I know that now.  Though as my first cabinet I had specific plans for it which did not include a tracball. But for some reason I keep chaning my mind, unluckily waiting until the holes are drilled and the glue is dry.

gamecreature has the right idea... if you are going to put artwork on the bezel do something that is more or less artwork that stand on its own and can work with the existing artwork...

I am going to try emailing the guy from mamemarquees.com, the same who did the CP and marquee artwork. I will send him the measurements and pictures of my cabinet and hope he wont mind picking something out for me that will work.  He was very helpful on the marquee, so I dont think he will mind.

[gamecreature]

Scott's been really great to work with. I'm sure he can help you out.

Oh, and thanks for the kind words about the cabinet, guys!

[NoOne=NBA=]

I ran into a similar problem when my wife wouldn't let me decase the 21" I bought for my cab.
If you set the monitor back farther, you can use a bezel on it that is deeper and wider.
That will allow you to use less artwork on the front glass to cover the edges of the bezel.

I've got a 15" wide x 16" high viewport in my cab for a 19" vertical monitor.
The front glass is right at 24" square.

I posted pics in This Thread awhile back.