My panel, take 2

[crackbone]

Here's take 2 of the panel-34x19" for anyone interested.  

I moved the buttons away from the trackball and up to the top left...  and with the spacing I have I should have room for a spinner/4 way should the want arise.

Thoughts?

Crack

[crackbone]

Oops... here it is.

[mastercave]

nice indeed. i like the scheme of blue and black. what program are you using for those graphics? and you have only one coin for both players? not sure if its a problem but will it give a credit for each player each time you hit the button? btw, what are people using that button offset from the rest for? neo geo?

[crackbone]

Thanks.  I'm using photoshop, and the graphics are based off of another member's panel (whose name I forget, but big props to him!).  I can post the .psd of it if anyone's interested in it, as long as arcadecontrols is willing to host it (it's about 25M).

Yeah, the 7th button off at an angle is for neo geo games.

[crackbone]

Oh yeah, the coin button...
Basically, I've got a working coin door, but I had a spare button to use.. so I thought I'd put a coin button on the CP in case I had no quarters or lazy friends.  

[Brax]

Ooo, dark and scary!  

[unclet]

If you use your right hand to give the trackball a real good spin, will your right forearm go into  the joystick on the right?

Is your trackball going to be a "mouse" hack or a true trackball?  If a mouse hack, then you might want to include mouse right/left click buttons as well.

I can not read the text associated with the buttons in the upper left corner....so i wanted to make sure you had a "pause" button.   This is very useful for those times you really need to bolt to the toilet..  

[AceTKK]

it looks good!  I like the bevelled edges on the graphics (looks like you used my drawing to start with).  May I suggest adding some kind of pattern or motion in the background?  A starry sky might look cool.

-Ace-

[unclet]

Do you really need to label the trackball with "Trackball" text.....you do not label your joysticks "Joystick1 and Joystick2", so it might look odd.    Everyone knows that you have a trackball without the text

Just my 2 cents....do not mean to offend so please dont take it that way  

PS:  I also agree with AceTKK about the solid black background....some type of "non-intrusive" image would be cool.   You might think a 34" control panel of solid black might look a little to bare.

[crackbone]

Ace-  yeah, if yours was the one that was light blue with the grid.  Thanks for posting those.  I took some serious liberties, I hope you don't mind.

Unclet-  The trackball shouldn't get a lot of bowling/golden tee use, but anyone who wants to do so will just have to be careful when they do.  As for labeling the trackball, I see you point, but I hate to not have it labeled... goofy, yes, but I like consistency.

As for the black background, it's not finished yet.  I've settled on the control outline graphics and I'm working on something to put in the background.  Right now the scheme is black, deep blue, and silver.  I haven't decided yet on what to put behind them.. and suggestions are welcome.

[skirge66]

lightning...like some of those nice arizona thunderstorm pics might compliment your color scheme nicely

[Distortion]

I disagree on the lightning thing.  I've always been about simplicity.  Solid colors usually look nicest.

[crackbone]

Well, the biggest problem is if I use a photo or predrawn source, chances are it's not gonna be big enough for the panel (34x19 at 300dpi)...  so I'm reduced to 2 options.

1.  Figure out and render and idea.  Which I can do, but I'm WAY to indecisive normally.  I'd like to have my cab done sometime this year.

2.  Go with a photoshop filter to add some texture.  Yeah, I know people way overuse filters, but it's a very easy way to add some good-looking texture without hours of work.

SIGH.

Crack.