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Software used for Control panel layout

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unclet:
I would make sure you have enough room between the trackball and the right joystick, so the player using the trackball does not fit his right forearm into the right joystick.   Maybe not a problem.... ahrd to tell.   Just create a mock control panel from some scrap wood and stand in front of it and pretend.   This is what I did, and it helped a lot  (even got my wife involved to help pretend   ;D )  

PS:  Would you want to add a Pause button, some pinball buttons on the side or right/left mouse click buttons next to your trackball?  Just extra ideas.   I use my trackball as a mouse all the time.

Brad Lee:
I usually use photoshop for my layout designs. Make each item on a seperate layer so they can be moved around.

I start with a 24x8" document, for the first stage I use 32dpi to get my rough layout. each pixel is 1/32 of an inch then, pretty common for measurements.

FOr the T-sticks(Ive got the older model with the side lever) I:
make a layer with a square thats 2.5"x3.5"(the box uinder the panel, to make sure it fits)
make a layer on top of that with a 2"x2" circle(the dust washer)
make a layer on top of that with a 1.5"x1.5"  circle(the ball top of the stick)
center everything
merge the layers together

For buttons, I use the same formula, with the size underneath the panel on one layer, and the size of the bezel on the top of the CP

For my spinner, its the oscar pro disk, so thats 3.5"x3.5" circle on the bottom, 2" circle knob on top



To lay everything out, I use the outside dimensions, to make sure theres room for everything.
I make all the "bottom" layers the same color so when I get it situated, I select that color, delete it, and then Im left with just whats covered/unseen on the CP, for over printing purposes

THen I blow it up to 300dpi, and its pretty jagged so I recreate those circles with proper dimensions and line em up with the jaggy originals.

I then take the layer with my circles, lock it, and move it to the top of my layers while I do the artwork

mm_can:
I am sold on Visio, I can use layers etc, lock them so I won't move them by accident.  Also the grid in Visio works really well, letting me space things perfectly right down to the mm.

I do have a side question tho.  On the typical 6 button arrangement, 'read the capcom style'.  If I was to place the 7th button like i see Slickstick do, or so many others, to the left and down.  What is the spacing offset for that button ?


--- Quote ---PS:  Would you want to add a Pause button, some pinball buttons on the side or right/left mouse click buttons next to your trackball?  Just extra ideas.  I use my trackball as a mouse all the time.
--- End quote ---
I use jpac so a shifted key works as my pause.

Mike

krick:

--- Quote from: Mike (Canada) on February 07, 2004, 12:32:58 pm ---I am sold on Visio, I can use layers etc, lock them so I won't move them by accident.  Also the grid in Visio works really well, letting me space things perfectly right down to the mm.

--- End quote ---

I hear a lot of people mention Visio.  I used it a LOOOONNNGG time ago on Windows 3.1.   What version of Visio are people using here?  I've seen Visio 5 on ebay for about $30.  I really don't want to spend 200+ for the newer versions if I don't have to.


--- Quote from: Mike (Canada) on February 07, 2004, 12:32:58 pm ---I do have a side question tho.  On the typical 6 button arrangement, 'read the capcom style'.  If I was to place the 7th button like i see Slickstick do, or so many others, to the left and down.  What is the spacing offset for that button ?

--- End quote ---

If you look at the MK3 measurements I posted above, they place the "run" button 1.5 inches left and 1.5 inches down from the lower left button.

krick:
I've been playing around with TurboCAD and here's my 7 button layout that's a cross between the SF2 and MK3 layouts...



The TurboCAD file is here...

http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/mame/7button.tcw

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