Author Topic: The beginning of something.. (Read 15791 times)

Rom · « **on:** May 11, 2003, 08:41:52 am »

I've been lurking around these boards for quite some time now and am in the process of building my own cabinet. (Pictures to come when it's complete). I thought I would just show what I'm working on for the Marquee graphic. The logo and text are pretty much how I want them, it's mainly the background that will be changed. It's not very retro looking, but should fit in with the look of the cabinet I'm building..

Lucky S.O.B. · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2003, 03:16:19 am »

I like that alot... simple, clean, and the color scheme could be match with blue T-molding, buttons, and other accents.

Can't wait to final product.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2003, 04:10:33 am »

I like it too. Have you looked at it without that slightly faded background bit? It may look nicer without it?

Rom · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2003, 05:00:17 am »

Quote from: paigeoliver on May 12, 2003, 04:10:33 am

I like it too. Have you looked at it without that slightly faded background bit? It may look nicer without it?

Here's the text and logo with no background. I've had a play with the bevel and emboss command in Photoshop to bring the text more in line with the graphic. Doesn't look too bad.
As for the background I want to somehow represent the fusing of elements i.e games, into one entitiy - a multipurpose games cabinet. I have a rough idea of how I would like that image to look. Problem is that you have a clear idea in your head, but when you try and translate that to the computer screen it never comes out how you want.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2003, 05:23:57 am »

Hmmm. That one looks great too. You really can't go wrong with either one of those.

Rom · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2003, 06:54:38 am »

In reference to my above reply for the background. I'm looking at something along the lines of this. I threw this together to get an idea if it would work. Has potential.

_{edit. Yeh blue does look better}

Sprucemoose · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2003, 09:30:53 am »

I think I like the original on the best. Maybe try the last version with blue in place of the yellow. Did you use photoshop? I am getting ready to start designing my marquee and need a good starting point.

Rom · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2003, 04:30:54 pm »

Quote from: Sprucemoose on May 12, 2003, 09:30:53 am

I think I like the original on the best. Maybe try the last version with blue in place of the yellow. Did you use photoshop? I am getting ready to start designing my marquee and need a good starting point.

Yeah you're right the blue does look better. Should of gone with that to begin with.

I've used a number of programs. The graphic I had made using Rhino and Bryce some time ago so I thought I would reuse it. The background was done in 3D Max. The text was created in Illustrator. I'm sure this font is out there but I got tired of trying to hunting it down. This is all then thrown into Photoshop.

I intend to use hexagons rather than discs for the background graphic. Originally it was going to be something like the original 2D background - larger hexagons on the outside converging to small in the middle. Each hexagon would represent a game. I'm still in two minds about maybe having screen grabs as a texture on the hexagons. I'll see how it looks as it might make things look a bit too busy.

Frostillicus · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2003, 05:29:02 pm »

I really like the look of that text - I'm a big fan of using strokes and fills around huge letters. My vote would go towards the last one there, the blue one.
The one thing that yells at me is the black spaces on the ends - maybe throw some longer lines coming from the background explosion that reach to the edges?

Brax · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2003, 08:58:58 pm »

I was going to suggest that you add some depth to your text to match your graphic..... I see you beat me to it! Looks brilliant!

I'm with Frosty.... Just a little less black on the ends. Extending the blue would look great. Nice job, original and artistic!

Rom · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2003, 04:10:54 am »

Ok's well here's a quick mock up with a slightly different background attached. I agree it looks better than just black by itself. Now to actually sit down and play with a few elements to see if they fit or not.

_{on a side note, sorry to be posting my working in progress hopefully people like to see something taking shape.}

Rasher2k · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2003, 02:03:29 pm »

I always think of that ps2 snowboarding game SSX when I see outlined text using a white-on-blue theme - it's even got a snowflake variant!

Looks pretty slick even so.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2003, 03:58:20 pm »

I usually see 3 major types of artwork on MAME machines. It's either classic, fighter, and geometric. (Mine will probably be geometric since I'm not incredibl talented.)

It's nice to see something a bit different for a change. If the rest of your machine looks like that marquee then it's going to look really great.

I know people like to include the name "MAME" somewhere on their machine to show what it is, but in this case I wouldn't even bother.

The MAME logo is very blocky and would contrast incedibly. Plus this is too nice.

P.S. You gonna make that marquee publicly available???

AlanS17 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2003, 03:07:46 pm »

Do you think I could get a copy of that without the "fusion" on it? I bet it would make a pretty control panel overlay.

Also, I think that would make a great marquee. But I don't know how you feel about sharing. I don't blame you for wanting to keep it special.

Pixelhugger · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:26:57 pm »

Holy "never-seen-a-marquee-THAT-professional-on-a-custom-cab-before" Batman! WOW

I'm very impressed. That'll light up beautifully! My only thought would be that the black discs look a bit dark given the ambient light in the hex background. I like the blue BG a lot but the ball looses something when taken out of the black environment.

Good grief tho' that's beautiful artwork and really solid design. Congrats and a back handed thanks for raising the bar.

Rom · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2003, 05:11:28 am »

AlanS17: Yep, I will make it avaliable when it's complete. Unfortunately I've been busy with other things that last few days so haven't had a chance to do any more work.

Pixelhugger: Thanks for the compliment. Yeh the black discs do look a bit too dark. I've got a couple ideas there to brighten it up etc.. The intention is to make them hexagons to fit in with the backgound. (I seem to be fixated on hexagons for some strange reason

I'm working on trying to get better symmetry amoung the discs as they aren't placed the best. Basically I put them in a circle and cloned them and rotated them to get a ball. Prob not the best way of doing it but the only way I know at the moment. The fun thing with all this is that it's a learning process. Unfortunately it does mean it takes a lot longer to get the final product which can be very frustrating at times

Ohh well I'm sure it will be worth it in the end

AlanS17 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2003, 12:58:35 pm »

Quote from: Rom on May 21, 2003, 05:11:28 am

AlanS17: Yep, I will make it avaliable when it's complete. Unfortunately I've been busy with other things that last few days so haven't had a chance to do any more work.

Pixelhugger: Yeh the black discs do look a bit too dark. I've got a couple ideas there to brighten it up etc..
I'm working on trying to get better symmetry amoung the discs as they aren't placed the best. Basically I put them in a circle and cloned them and rotated them to get a ball. Prob not the best way of doing it but the only way I know at the moment. The fun thing with all this is that it's a learning process. Unfortunately it does mean it takes a lot longer to get the final product which can be very frustrating at times Ohh well I'm sure it will be worth it in the end

I like the way it's done. It has a random, explosive quality about it. If you use hexagons you're gonna give it more of a soccer ball feel. Plus I think having circles with hexagons around the edges gives it some variety and keeps it from being TOO uniform. (it that makes any sense)

P.S. When you do post a final copy make sure you have one with and with out the "fusion".

(And a square image with a full ball wouldn't hurt either)

Rom · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2003, 12:09:57 pm »

Well it's 3.30am in the morning and I'm slowly progressing with the marquee. I find quite often that working at this time is best, no distractions from others in the household.
Anyway, here's a bit of an update. I tried to make it as random as possible with the hex's.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2003, 04:13:03 pm »

Oh that is AWESOME!!! I dind't think you could mke it any better!!!

Would you still post the old one with the circles, too, though? My cabinet happens to have a lot of curves in it.

I'd have the hardest time deciding.

That might be the best MAME marquee I've ever seen, though!!!

AceTKK · « **Reply #19 on:** May 26, 2003, 08:03:04 pm »

Cool! I would try adding a black stroke to the outside of the text to set it off a little more from the background. It's very nice as-is though.

-Ace-

AlanS17 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2003, 07:50:24 pm »

Any news on this marquee?

jakejake28 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2003, 11:23:18 pm »

i didn't know hippies played arcades. isn't it environmentaly un-safe or something, y'know with all the power needed

Rom · « **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2003, 08:36:43 pm »

Here's an update on things. Still work to do, but this is close to how the finished marquee will look. I might add in some motion blur to give the effect that the objects are being pulled in.

AlanS17: I haven't gone any further with the circular image except what you see on this thread. At the time it was a mock up to see if this would work which I soon discarded in favour of the hex's.

spectre · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2003, 01:21:26 am »

looks nice, looks as if the objects are being pushed or exploded out tho... looks good tho

crashdmj · « **Reply #24 on:** June 08, 2003, 01:59:06 am »

I really like it! Very professional.

CthulhuLuke · « **Reply #25 on:** June 08, 2003, 05:20:40 am »

Yikes, is someone a professional artist around here?
Looks extremely good, very nice little details everywhere, very very nice work on the main text, I'd say with a tiny tiny bit more touch up it looks like a finished product.
just a quick question, are you doing that entire thing in photoshop?? Or is that background some kind of a 3DMax or something like that? And also what font is that you used for the main text?
-Very good work, it truly looks professional
-Luke

Brax · « **Reply #26 on:** June 08, 2003, 02:00:49 pm »

That is bloody freaking perfect!!!!!

Of course, every time I think that, you make it BETTER!
Amazing work.
;DI want to stick a fork in my eye it's so cool!!

AlanS17 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 08, 2003, 04:22:09 pm »

That thing just gets better every time. Some day you're going to finally run out of things to do to it. Don't know when that will be... but someday.

When do you think you can get a finalized post of that thing?

Rom · « **Reply #28 on:** June 08, 2003, 04:28:00 pm »

Thanks for the comments. Still a bit more tweaking to do and yeah spectre you're right it does look like it's exploding rather than imploding. I'll see if I can work on that.

CthulhuLuke: I'm more a part time artist, doing things for my own pleasure than anything else. The background was indeed created in 3D Max. As for the text, well I came across the font on a sticker and went hunting for it on the net. In the end I got frustrated looking through many font sites that I just created the letting in Illustrator.

Brax: Thanks, I've never heard that phrase before certainly sounds painful

spectre · « **Reply #29 on:** June 08, 2003, 04:53:01 pm »

all you have to do is angle the lil pieces "exploding" the oppisite way... if you are using photoshop it's pretty easy...

Shieldwolf · « **Reply #30 on:** June 16, 2003, 04:09:57 pm »

I hate all you artists!!!

Rom,
Congrats. That's really going to be one sweet marquee.

Rom · « **Reply #31 on:** July 03, 2003, 09:43:51 pm »

Here's the graphics with red and blue, plus plain blue. I've left it blank so people can have a play around with text on them.
I've added depth of field to the image as it just looked too sharp for my liking.

I'm not that up on how things on the screen will turn out when printed so I'm a bit apprehensive about making it available incase it doesn't print out as good as you see here. Unfortunately I have some dental work to be done

so it will be some time before I can get this printed to see how it looks.
If someone can help with hosting then I'll make the larger file available soon. (still a few tweeks to do.)

king88mob · « **Reply #32 on:** July 07, 2003, 01:23:40 pm »

I can host it if you'd like. I'd love to get the plain blue one in a format that will print well at 30"x16", that would be one of the nicest CP overlays i've seen yet.

GamingGreg · « **Reply #33 on:** July 18, 2003, 07:23:47 pm »

That's amazing work! I'd also like to get a hold of that blue one in a larger format. Have you found a place to host it yet? This site might be willing to host it as well. There are already hosting some others.

Captain Rotundo · « **Reply #34 on:** July 24, 2003, 04:56:15 pm »

All I can say is WOW. This is an amazing overlay (or marquee for that matter). I've been planning on doing my own overlays, even though I have 0 artistic ability, I have never seen one I liked (that perfect mix of nastalgia and modern goodness, while at the same time referencing no specific classic game) I would love to use this overlay for my cab, and it would be really cool to get it in a variety of colors, so each cp I make would have a different one! _ I like the red, but how about yellow and green as well ? maybe purple and orange, etc... great work.

vusteveii · « **Reply #35 on:** July 24, 2003, 05:52:13 pm »

I'm also eagerly awaiting the availability of the his res file, its so damn cool.

austinrfnd · « **Reply #36 on:** August 07, 2003, 02:42:10 am »

I am hoping that the large version of any two of the files have found a nice home. If they have, someone PM me

-Austin

Captain Rotundo · « **Reply #37 on:** August 07, 2003, 10:52:49 am »

don't PM him, post links here!

TheGatesofBill · « **Reply #38 on:** August 07, 2003, 11:38:03 am »

Wow, those look nice. I'd like to use either of those for my arcade, I suck quite a bit at making things look that nice.

walls83 · « **Reply #39 on:** August 08, 2003, 12:31:49 pm »

Those marquees are very nice. Nice work. That last blue one would be a great cp overlay..


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