planning cp layout with software ????

[quintinbiker]

Hi people.

I'd just like to find out, what software could i use to plan a new mame cabinet from control pannel layout to control pannel overlay graphics etc? call me stupid but i'm not sure what program they use to plan the cpanel for the cabinet and then how to make the artwork to lighn up with the actual buttons.

any help will be apriciated.
I'm thinking of doing another mame cabinet.

[Jammin0]

You might get a ton of different opinions on this one but I would use Adobe Illustrator.  I would draw the entire thing at a 1:1 scale.  You can also export from illustrator to Google Sketchup if you use a .dwg format.  That way you can take a 2D sketch of your CP and then extrude and add to it if you want a 3D mockup of the entire CP.

The reason that I suggest AI is because you can do your vector graphics right there in the program and have them printed up.  Don't a lot of people just print a big grayscale version to use as a template on the CP and then the actual color version that goes down after you do all the cutouts for buttons?

[RetroBorg]

You might get a ton of different opinions on this one but I would use Adobe Illustrator.  I would draw the entire thing at a 1:1 scale.  You can also export from illustrator to Google Sketchup if you use a .dwg format.  That way you can take a 2D sketch of your CP and then extrude and add to it if you want a 3D mockup of the entire CP.

The reason that I suggest AI is because you can do your vector graphics right there in the program and have them printed up.  Don't a lot of people just print a big grayscale version to use as a template on the CP and then the actual color version that goes down after you do all the cutouts for buttons?

That sounds like a good way to do it.

[robertwillton]

Well its good if CP Software you plan is an active participant in the ventures it funds...and if you  planning cp, operational management, data center services...its a great