Creating a control panel overlay...HELP!

[Vulgar Soul]

So I plan to build my own Cabinet soon. The wiring and all the deep stuff seems simple enough, but one of my biggest tasks has been coming up with my own Artwork and design.

I have a very specific vision for how I would like the cabinet to look. Nothing to extravagant and flamboyant (like lightning bolts or all-over images of comic book characters and all that), but for the most part sleek and simple, with a settling color scheme and design.

Since the Arcade Art Library site has been down for awhile I decided to focus on maybe getting together a control panel overlay for my planned 4-player unit which I hope to get custom printed. One thing I would really like is a simple but sleek and vibrant, and not too distracting, control panel art that is properly labeled with a bit of a "retro" flare.

I was looking through the "Control Panel Database" thread for some inspiration and really liked these:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59359.msg646049#msg646049
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59359.msg733696#msg733696
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59359.msg816062#msg816062
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59359.msg872397#msg872397

Just to show a few examples of what I'm kinda getting at

So I opened up Illustrator, opened up a new file with the dimensions, in inches, of my panel and that's where my progress ended.

Than I realized...my graphics processing skills suck... I haven't a clue how to even create simple, smooth and consistent shapes, let alone how to do it with the correct measurements and sizes according to the placement of my buttons. I can't seem to find any useful tips or tutorials anywhere on creating custom CPO's.

Could anyone out there help a newbie out? Thanks...And maybe I'll kinda draw how I envision my panel overlay to look on paper to show off and see if it helps...

Also, I have pretty good skills on wiring and computing, but I am a helpless newb when it comes to the construction and designing aspects of building this thing, so this may not be the last time I post here. Please bear with me BYOAC!

Thanks again

[kokoski]

I'm in the same boat lol. I'm actually at the point where I'm actively looking for sites that sell premade ones, but I've only really found 2 such sites, and the "custom" ones they sell are pretty common from pics I've seen. I had tried contacting people to see if they would part with the really cool ones they have made, even for a nominal fee, with no luck.

[Vulgar Soul]

I'm in the same boat lol. I'm actually at the point where I'm actively looking for sites that sell premade ones, but I've only really found 2 such sites, and the "custom" ones they sell are pretty common from pics I've seen. I had tried contacting people to see if they would part with the really cool ones they have made, even for a nominal fee, with no luck.

Yeah, I'm really at a loss for this one. Most of the premade ones I'd seen at other sites just aren't of my taste. Most lack nice proper labeling that I need, and the few that do are on top of some distracting image. And none of them go with my intended color scheme.

Thing is, I just want something nice and simple. No more than maybe 2 or 3 colors, and just simple shapes and lines is all I really need to know how to do for now. Problem is, I haven't clue how to either make these shapes or make them with the proper measurements to go with the panel.

I've seen so many "HEY CHECK OUT MY CPO!!!" threads here with people showing off rather elaborate designs, I can only wonder how it's done. Any help out there? Anywhere?

[Honkyharris]

Well even though I've lost my artwork for the time being (stupid virus!) I can tell you how I laid mine out. First I measured the dimensions of my control panel box to make sure I know what my working area is. I then took that information and put all of my needed linework into autocad. I used the dimensions from happs website to layout button, joystick, and trackball locations.

Once I had the layout complete and checked the under dimensions of the joystick/trackball to make sure they wouldn't interfer with one another after installation, I then took that .dwg and converted it a .pdf so I could open it in Photoshop. Once in Photoshop the options are nearly endless. I setup the file as a 300 dpi file  (which makes the file size huge), but also very high quality. All my artwork was original so I didn't need to do any vector work as some people talk about.

As for my design, I had several drawings I had done on pieces of paper and just started working in Photoshop to see what I liked. My design is plain, but there is no reason why you couldn't research some simple effects to use Photoshop to create some very artistic designs.

Here is a link to my project and what I had before my computer took a s*#! on me a week ago. I now have to spend the time redoing it, but now that I've done it once and know what I want it shouldn't take to long.

Hope that helped,
Honkyharris

p.s. I don't own a copy of autocad so my work was done in a free trial of 2010 from cnet

[kokoski]

WTB link

[Honkyharris]

Autocad 2010 30-Day Trial

You could use this more than once if needed although the website doesn't advertise that and I'm not recommending it

Honkyharris

[kokoski]

Here is a link to my project and what I had before my computer took a s*#! on me a week ago. I now have to spend the time redoing it, but now that I've done it once and know what I want it shouldn't take to long.

Hope that helped,
Honkyharris

p.s. I don't own a copy of autocad so my work was done in a free trial of 2010 from cnet

WTB link to your project

[Vulgar Soul]

Just an update guys, I finally got a nice control panel goin and I will be posting it for comments, suggestions, and perhaps some further help very soon! Thanks

[Honkyharris]

WTB link to your project

LOL sorry about that here is ya go : My Project

I've completed a lot more work on the cab but as I said I did lose all my cp/marquee work although I plan on making some changes to it when I redo it

Honkyharris