Artwork - Revision history

Jwilson: Reverted edits by Delah (talk) to last revision by Jwilson

2016-11-12T15:57:37Z

Reverted edits by Delah (talk) to last revision by Jwilson

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:57, 12 November 2016
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	* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]		* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]
			* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]
	* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images Pinball Browser]		* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images Pinball Browser]

Delah: /* Animation */

2016-11-08T08:56:47Z

Animation

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:56, 8 November 2016
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	* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]		* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]
	* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]
	* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images Pinball Browser]		* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images Pinball Browser]

Jwilson: /* Stencils */

2015-06-05T21:02:32Z

Stencils

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 5 June 2015
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	Typically the cabinet will have the name of the machine, often as a logo. Sometimes the art is printed with a plain background, or sometimes the entire cabinet is filled with art. Like playfields, the cabinet can be direct printed or done with an overlay. Stern has been doing overlay for many years now because they can get brighter colors when compared to direct printing.		Typically the cabinet will have the name of the machine, often as a logo. Sometimes the art is printed with a plain background, or sometimes the entire cabinet is filled with art. Like playfields, the cabinet can be direct printed or done with an overlay. Stern has been doing overlay for many years now because they can get brighter colors when compared to direct printing.

	==== Stencils ====		=== Stencils ===
	Originally, cabinets were printed using '''Stencils'''. The cabinets were printed in stages, with each stencil masking the previous layer, similar to screenprinted but done with spraypaint instead of ink through a screen. Commercial machines were done using cut metal stencils which were laid on the cabinets and spray painted. The metal stencil would not always lay perfectly flat, resulting in sometimes blurry edges on the artwork.		Originally, cabinets were printed using '''Stencils'''. The cabinets were printed in stages, with each stencil masking the previous layer, similar to screenprinted but done with spraypaint instead of ink through a screen. Commercial machines were done using cut metal stencils which were laid on the cabinets and spray painted. The metal stencil would not always lay perfectly flat, resulting in sometimes blurry edges on the artwork.

	However, this process is particularly easy for the garage builder to emulate using paper or mylar sheets, and does present a very striking image.		However, this process is particularly easy for the garage builder to emulate using paper or mylar sheets, and does present a very striking image. Some of the things a stencil is useful to do include:

			* Creating airbrush masks and stencils for playfield painting
			* Cutting printed decals with absolutely NO unprinted material
			* Creating DIY cabinet stencils
			* Creating masks for cabinet touchups
			* Creating masks for the creation of playfield plastics.


	(Photos from [http://pinballbuilders.com/ Pinball Builders])		(Photos from [http://pinballbuilders.com/ Pinball Builders])


	[[Image:stencil-1.png]]		[[Image:stencil-1.png]]

Toyotaboy: /* Animation */

2015-01-22T18:37:08Z

Animation

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:37, 22 January 2015
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	* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]		* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]
	* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]		* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]
	* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images]		* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images Pinball Browser]

Toyotaboy: /* Animation */

2015-01-22T18:36:56Z

Animation

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:36, 22 January 2015
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	* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]		* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]
	* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]		* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]
			* [https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/acdc-display-and-modify-dot-matrix-images]

Jwilson: /* Displays */

2015-01-13T01:48:12Z

Displays

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:48, 13 January 2015
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	Use the playfield CAD drawing to create the cut template.		Use the playfield CAD drawing to create the cut template.

	~~== Displays ==~~

	~~The other side of artwork is the game itself, in the form of score displays.~~

	~~=== Numeric / Alphanumeric ===~~

	Numeric or Alphanumeric score displays are sometimes chosen even today because of the ease of programming - they display simple scores or lines of text only, so no complicated graphics need to be designed or coded. That means more time to concentrate on gameplay versus interfacing with the player.

	~~==== Gas Plasma ====~~

	The first commercial solid-state displays in common usage were '''Gas Plasma''' displays. They use high voltage to cause a noble gas like neon to glow. Shaping the conductive layers into digits allows the display of multiple numbers or letters.

	~~[[Image:gas-plasma.jpg]]~~

	These types of displays are not only dangerous, due to the high voltages required, they are prone to burn-out or out-gassing, and have been obsolete for many years. Unless re-theming an older game and wanting to re-use existing parts, or trying to maintain a retro look, it is suggested to use '''LED''' replacements.

	~~==== LED Displays ====~~

	~~[[Image:led-display.jpg]]~~

	~~The pinball after-market has produced a number of excellent plug-and-play LED display replacements.~~

	* [http://xpinpinball.com/ X-PIN] has 6- and 7-segment displays as well as alphanumerics.
	* [http://www.pinscore.com/products/pinball-displays Pinscore] has retrofit kits for older machines.
	* [http://www.pinled.de/shop/index.php PinLED] in Europe has a variety of options available.


	~~Additionally, there are many generic LED displays to choose from:~~

	* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/103 Adafruit] offers a number of LED segment displays with instructions on programming them with various microcontrollers.

	~~=== Dot Matrix ===~~

	~~[[Image:dmd-closeup.png]]~~

	Modern games make use of either a gas plasma or LED '''Dox Matrix Display''' or '''DMD'''. They work on the same principle as the segment display except they use round pixels in a grid pattern - or ''matrix'' - to display game information.

	~~[[Image:dmd-display.png]]~~

	The complexity with these displays is that the programmer must construct numbers or letters in a graphic format and then push that data to the display. Rather than program "display 300,000", they must use '''bitmap''' fonts and determine screen placement.

	~~However, many [[Programming#Frameworks\|programming frameworks]] currently available offer this functionality built in and are an excellent place to start learning about game graphics.~~

	~~Other options for matrix displays include:~~

	~~[[Image:small-dmd.png]]~~

	* [http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/75-peggy2 Evil Mad Scientist] offers the Peggy 2 DMD kit for exploring DMD programming.
	* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/326 Adafruit] has a variety of matrix boards with programming instructions included.
	* [http://www.embeddedadventures.com/led_matrix_displays_category.html Embedded Adventures] has kits as well.

	~~=== LCD Display ===~~

	The trend for modern games is using '''LCD''' screens in place of DMDs or other older display technologies. Full color with high resolution, the results can be very attractive. However, at this level a game designer essentially becomes a videogame designer. A pinball maker has to wear many hats but it is the rare individual who can do both construction ''and'' handle graphics duties.

	~~There is some discussion of the [http://www.pinballcontrollers.com/forum/index.php?topic=1026.0 technical] side of graphical displays on the pinballcontrollers Forum.~~

	=== Animation ===		=== Animation ===

Jwilson: /* Screenprinting */

2015-01-12T22:24:59Z

Screenprinting

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:24, 12 January 2015
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	[[Image:multi-color.png]]		[[Image:multi-color.png]]

			An ''Eight Ball Deluxe'' playfield without the black keyline added yet. Based on original films, the lines are rough because 30 years ago, the films were cut by hand! Once printed, the artwork will look crisp and all colors will be properly ''trapped''.

			[[Image:no-keyline.png]]

	Here is an example of a ''Funhouse'' playfield that has a black keyline, but also shows a printing error - the black doesn't cover enough to offset the error in the red layer positioning, thus not ''trapping'' the red. This is most obvious in the top left. Sometimes these will make it into final production games!		Here is an example of a ''Funhouse'' playfield that has a black keyline, but also shows a printing error - the black doesn't cover enough to offset the error in the red layer positioning, thus not ''trapping'' the red. This is most obvious in the top left. Sometimes these will make it into final production games!

Jwilson: /* Animation */

2015-01-12T22:17:09Z

Animation

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:17, 12 January 2015
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	=== Animation ===		=== Animation ===

			Doing animation on DMDs or LCDs requires animation tools.

			* [http://www.synfig.org/cms/ Synfig]
			* [http://www.pencil-animation.org/ Pencil]

Jwilson: /* Dot Matrix */

2015-01-12T22:13:50Z

Dot Matrix

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 12 January 2015
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	* [http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/75-peggy2 Evil Mad Scientist] offers the Peggy 2 DMD kit for exploring DMD programming.		* [http://shop.evilmadscientist.com/productsmenu/tinykitlist/75-peggy2 Evil Mad Scientist] offers the Peggy 2 DMD kit for exploring DMD programming.
	* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/326 Adafruit] has a variety of matrix boards with programming instructions included.		* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/326 Adafruit] has a variety of matrix boards with programming instructions included.
			* [http://www.embeddedadventures.com/led_matrix_displays_category.html Embedded Adventures] has kits as well.

	=== LCD Display ===		=== LCD Display ===

Jwilson: /* VGA Display */

2015-01-12T22:12:48Z

VGA Display

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 12 January 2015
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	* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/326 Adafruit] has a variety of matrix boards with programming instructions included.		* [http://www.adafruit.com/categories/326 Adafruit] has a variety of matrix boards with programming instructions included.

	=== ~~VGA~~ Display ===		=== LCD Display ===

			The trend for modern games is using '''LCD''' screens in place of DMDs or other older display technologies. Full color with high resolution, the results can be very attractive. However, at this level a game designer essentially becomes a videogame designer. A pinball maker has to wear many hats but it is the rare individual who can do both construction ''and'' handle graphics duties.

			There is some discussion of the [http://www.pinballcontrollers.com/forum/index.php?topic=1026.0 technical] side of graphical displays on the pinballcontrollers Forum.

	=== Animation ===		=== Animation ===