Want opinions on my control panel artwork

[oqqalz]

I am in the midst of developing my first MAME cabinet.  Right now, I am working on the artwork for the control panel.  I am going for a somewhat "spacey" look to the control panel.  I am calling upon the wisdom of the forum for some opinions of the artwork and my layout.  Is it too too busy, too colorful, too over the top, blah, blah, blah?.   Since, this will most likely be my only MAME cabinet, I would like to get it right the first time.

Here is a picture of the layout and artwork. 


You can find a bigger version of the picture here  -> http://i14.tinypic.com/33b026u.jpg

The panel will be a custom SlikStik build that is a crossover of a Quad and CO2 design.  Player 1 and 2 get a UltraStik 360 left joystick and a Happ Optical Rotary right Joystick along with 7 buttons.  Between players 1 and 2 will be a Happ blue translucent trackball.  Players 3 and 4 will get Happ Competition Joysticks along with 4 buttons, rather than the standard SlikStick 7.  In the middle area of the panel will be a Ultimarc 4-way joystick om the left, two multi-purpose buttons and a BlackHawk spinner in the middle, and a Heavy Duty 8-way DoT-like stick on the right.

[MustardTent]

I like it.  I like the way you placed characters based on color.  But, it does feel a little busy.  Is there a way to reduce the background space image (like darken or wash out the colors a bit) to make it feel more like a background (space) and foreground (characters)? 

I'm not sure that I'm being clear here -- it's just that when I first looked at your design I had to take a second to figure out what was going on there.

It's off to an excellent start, though.  You have done a very impressive job. 

[pink]

Wow, great work!

I'd like to see the colors blend into each other a bit more .. the hard line transition is a little harsh - especially from yellow to red.

But, overall, excellent!

[Timoe]

The intial impact is - too busy.

I definitely subscribe to the less is more theory though.  Like all your control rings and details are tight.  The pic is clean but all those characters and what not its kind of alot to take in.


Good for you for being able to make your own art.  I am SO limited by my lack of ability in this area.  I have tons of ideas of things I'd love to build but it should really all start with the art.  Then layout your controls so their location is integrated with the art scheme.  I am rambling but ah.....

[oqqalz]

I have taken in all of your input and have the following pics for comment.  I darkened all of the space panel images to make them seem more "background-like".  I have put a gradient shader between each panel section so that the edges aren't as sharp.  Lastly, I made a version without the characters on it.  Let me know your likes and dislikes.

With characters:

Larger version can be found at http://i17.tinypic.com/42nwfmo.jpg.

Without characters:

Larger version can be found at http://i16.tinypic.com/43yizgi.jpg.

Also, here are some closeups of the control areas.

[Kaytrim]

Those look better.  In fact I like the one without the characters better.  Instead of using a gradient shader between each section try it with a blending of the two colors.  The yellow to red transition is still rather sharp.

[MustardTent]

These are much, much nicer.  Great work.  I share Kaytrim's sentiment that the artwork without the characters looks better.  However, I'd say that part is a toss-up.  They are both worthy of being printed.

Again, great work.