Program to create Control Panel

[dtr20]

I am designing a cab and I am trying to figure out the best way to design the control panel.  The cabinet is an Atomiswave Sport Shooting USA cab so I will use the exisiting control panel as a template.  What program would you recommend on using to design this piece of the project.  I really don't need anything extravigant, just need to label which buttons do what, such as nintendo start select, a, b, sega a, b, c, x, y, z, etc.  Any suggestions?  Thanks for the help

[SavannahLion]

You mean like button layout for fit or labeling the buttons on the actual cab itself?

For button layout, I use a combination of Microsoft Visio (because existing button templates already exist) and GIMP. For a three dimensional representation, I use Sketchup by importing a raster of the Visio file.

As for labeling the buttons. I dunno. I don't really label mind outside of the basics and at that point it's usually integrated into the artwork.

[dtr20]

I want to design the artwork for the control panel.  in the artwork, i want to label buttons.  so i guess im asking what is the best program to design the artwork for a control panel.

[donnie1979]

You proberly wanna use Adobe Photoshop or Illustrater.

[Woodshop Flunky]

I use GIMP for raster graphics and Inkscape for vector graphics (they are free to download and use).  If you've never used any product like Photoshop, or Illustrator, then there is going to be a steep learning curve.  Once you've got the basics, though, you can really do a lot with these free tools.