Matting the Monitor

[Visitor Q]

I have been considering ways to conceal the gap around my monitor. I have a bezel that cases the monitor well but it does not extend out far enough to cover the inside bordered edges of where the glass goes and the wood shows. I did get smoked glass but the wood can still be seen behind it so I thought to myself, how will I hide it? I have considered painting the back of the glass but then I came up with the idea of a matte like you would use in a picture frame.

Has anyone ever gone this route?

[javeryh]

YES!

The trick is finding solid black matte board - it is mostly sold in black with a white core (in my experience).  The stuff I used was from a local art store for $3.75 a sheet.  Places like Michael's and AC Moore wanted $20 for the same thing and they had to special order it!

[Ginsu Victim]

I just used black foam core board. It works well enough, though I'd suggest spray painting it black (just not black enough as-is).

[Hoopz]

This thread may help.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17175

You may need to tailor the process for your specific need obviously. 

[rlemmon]

I used 2 pieces of plexiglass with printed artwork from mamemarquees.com sandwiched beetween them.

[Visitor Q]

YES!

The trick is finding solid black matte board - it is mostly sold in black with a white core (in my experience).  The stuff I used was from a local art store for $3.75 a sheet.  Places like Michael's and AC Moore wanted $20 for the same thing and they had to special order it!

I collect some original art that I have framed here local and I already spoke to the guy, he has what you speak of infact he suggested it. 

[Visitor Q]

Matting trick worked perfect!

Recommend.

The matte cost me less than $20 bucks and it is not permit or messy like paint. If I want to put graphics behind it, all I need to do is remove it and stick it to the matte. Cool.

The only real flaw here and unless you are standing right in front of it is the non-rounded corners of the matte which you can see in the second picture. No Biggie. I could have always brought the matte in more to fix this but it fits so well, I would hate to mess with it at this point as it is really hard to pick out unless you are shinning direct light on it.

[Ginsu Victim]

Less than $20? I bought foam core for less than $5.00

[Visitor Q]

Less than $20? I bought foam core for less than $5.00

I had him cut it and all, so $18 bucks was part service.

[TOK]

I think it looks great as-is. You're usually your own worst critic. People that walk up to the machine won't ever notice stuff like that.
If you'll like the foam core to blend more closely with the bezel, they do take paint well. You have to be careful with paint selection if you have any foam exposed, the propellant in some paint cans will eat the foam. Testors model paints won't and I've had good luck with spraying foam.

There are a couple pics of foam core I painted about halfway down the page.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66946.0

[Visitor Q]

TOK,

Thanks!

WOW! That little cab is neat! I just love those little bar tops...

Very Nice!

[javeryh]

Looks good!  If you get some smoked/gray glass it will hide everything very nicely.  The only thing I see on mine is the lit screen - when it is off the entire area looks black and I can't even tell there is a monitor in there.  Mine is angled a bit more than yours though....

[Visitor Q]

Looks good!  If you get some smoked/gray glass it will hide everything very nicely.  The only thing I see on mine is the lit screen - when it is off the entire area looks black and I can't even tell there is a monitor in there.  Mine is angled a bit more than yours though....

Those pix are with the smoked glass already installed.