Graphics software

2009-03-09T21:14:19Z

Lave Laar: /* Raster software */

__NOTOC__
'''Graphics software''' are computer programs used by designers to create artwork.

=Raster software=
Raster software is used to create [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics raster graphics]. Common used software is:
* [http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/main.html?lid=//products//PS+Pdwn Adobe Photoshop (Windows XP, Vista, OSX 10.4, 10.5)]
:Adobe Photoshop is the granddaddy of photo editing. It works in printer-friendly CMYK colours as easy as in RGB colours.
* [http://www.gimp.org/ Gimp (Windows XP, Vista, Linux, OS X version uses the X11 display layer)]
:Gimp is the open-source and free software alternative to Photoshop. Expect every function of Photoshop to be found in Gimp, but do not expect similar smooth operation.
* [http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Products/Display&pid=1047025487586 Paintshop Pro (Windows XP, Vista)]
:Low budget commercial alternative to Photoshop. Paintshop Pro works with a slider-panel to make quick and easy adjustments to digital camera images. The work flow is comparable to the one in Adobes Lightroom and Apple's Aperture.
* [http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?en_version Artweaver (Windows XP, Vista)]
:Artweaver is a freeware alternative to Photoshop. Workspace layout and windows are similar to that of Photoshop. Feature set includes: layer management, image cloning, a history function, transparency, pen tablet support, and a host of the common filters in Photoshop.

=Vector software=
Vector software is used to create [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_graphics vector graphics]. Common used software is:
* [http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/main.html?lid=//products//AI+Pdwn Adobe Illustrator (Windows XP, Vista, OSX 10.4, 10.5)]
:Adobe Illustrator is a widely used vector illustration program. Available stand-alone or as part of an Creative Suite with Photoshop and InDesign (and optional other programs, depending on the suite you choose). A good tutorial for using Illustrator is available [http://localarcade.com/arcade_art/details.php?image_id=223 here].
* [http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Products/Display&pfid=1047024307335 Corel Draw (Windows XP, Vista)]
:CorelDraw is the behemoth of vector design. Maybe not the easiest to work with, but it can make custom true-type fonts, it converts more formats than others and does multi-page as well. The quality of Corel's conversion from bitmap to vector can be a good thing to start with.
* [http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=4054 Sodipodi (Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, BSD capable platforms like OS X or Linux)]
:Sodipodi is an open source vector design tool.
* [http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857981033.aspx Microsoft Visio (Windows XP, Vista)]
:Microsoft visio might be a first available vector illustration program for people using office suites. Like other office programs, Visio lacks working with printer-friendly CMYK inks. Prime colours without screens are hard to define.
* [http://www.adobe.com/products/freehand/ Freehand MX (Windows 98, NT4, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS 9.1, OS X 10.0-10.5]
:Freehand is no longer developed since it was acquired by Adobe, but it is still for sale. For hard core artwork designers Freehand's easier pen-tool, multi-page and paste-inside functions alone make it a worthy alternative to Illustrator and save you many hours on recreating artwork. The program is old but supports many operating systems, and is lightning fast on new machines. Tutorial for vectorizing in Freehand can be found [http://www.vectorize.de/tutorial.html here]

=Things to consider when choosing your software=
There has been much discussion over the years about which programs are better. Keep in mind when you are evaluating a software package to purchase or open source package to use, that you will probably have to output your designs to a professional printer. Not all commercial printers have all programs available, and not all features are compatible with their output hardware. Contact your printer first to make sure they'll be able to use your files.

Another thing to keep in mind when selecting software, is to choose one where you feel yourself most confortable with. If you are familiar with Photoshop, you will probably feel right at home in Illustrator as well. If you are skilled in Visio you can achieve great result even the toolset is more limited than Illustrator's. It all comes down to how well you know the software and how much time you want to invest to learn new skills for a particular software package.

=See also=
* [[Building]]
* [[Technical design software]]
* [[Raster versus Vector artwork]]

[[Category:Building]]

Front-Ends

2009-02-09T11:24:25Z

Lave Laar:

== Front-end Software ==
Below is the front-end software comparison table. Click on the software's name for detailed information about that software. Please be aware that this may be incomplete! The individual pages will have the software's homepage for you to verify any information or questions you may have!

''Note: Any unknown information in the table is filled with placeholders (placeholders are shown in italics).''
''Note: To be listed as Cabinet friendly, it needs to be able to be used with joysticks and buttons only (CAB).'''

{| Width="100%" valign="top" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid silver;"
|- style="background:navy; color:white"
| '''Software'''
| '''BYOAC User'''
| '''OS'''
| '''Type1'''
| '''Monitor Orientation 2'''
| '''Emulators3'''
| '''Other Features4'''

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Typical recommended frontends by BYOAC users:</center>'''

|-
| [[AtomicFE]]
| Youki
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LED LR MR ST TOU VID

|-
| [[GameEx]]
| TSpeirs
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Shareware ($22)
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW TOU VID

|-
| [[HyperSpin]]
| BadBoyBill
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LR MR ST SW VID

|-
| [[MaLa]]
| Loadman (previously Swindus)
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID

|-
| [[Mamewah]]
| Minwah
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LCD LED LR MR ST VID

|-
| [[Maximus Arcade]]
| %
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Shareware ($25)
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| 39+ arcade and console emulators
| CAB JB LED MR ST VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Recommended for Linux (both active and discounted):</center>'''

|-
| [[AdvanceMenu]]
| %
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| AM CAB LR MR VID

|-
| [[Wah!Cade]]
| Balki
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| DEV CAB LR MR ST VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Other cabinet friendly frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[Emulaxian/3D Arcade]]
| )p(
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB MR SW

|-
| [[Fronty]]
| FrontyDev
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LCD MR ST

|-
| [[Khameleon]]
| Cakemeister
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB DEV LR MR SW VID

|-
| [[MAMELOAD TNG]]
| Tafoid
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD (MAME-BASED, Including MESS), M1, Final Burn Alpha
| CAB DEV MR SW

|-
| [[MultiFE]]
| Space Fractal
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| Mame, CMD (Includning MESS) & PC Games
| CAB DEV JB MR TOU

|-
| [[UltraMame]]
| r.cade
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| MAME only
| CAB DEV MR VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Mouse based frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[EmuLaunch]]
| %
| [[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
| Freeware for personal use
| Emulator dependent
| Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators
| CAB SW

|-
| [[MAME32]]
| %
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| MAME only
| DEV MR

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Touch screen based frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[SimpleTouch FE]]
| Lave Laar
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| Application dependent
| CMD
| DEV ST TOU VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Discontinued and/or unsupported frontends5:</center>'''

|-
| [[ArcadeOS]]
| %
| [[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| AM CAB LCD LR MR

|-
| [[ArcadEpic]]
| chowny
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB JB MR VID

|-
| [[Dragon King]]
| Howard_Casto
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB LR MR SW VID

|-
| [[GameLauncher]]
| Dave Dribin
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB LR MR

|-
| [[Kymaera]]
| PacManFan
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| AM CAB LR MR ST SW VID

|-
| [[Ultrastyle]]
| ultrastyle
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| MAME only
| CAB MR SW VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Frontends with missing "other features" tab:</center>'''

|-
| [[CabFE]]
| %
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| ''Placeholder''

|-
| [[PyreCade]]
| flemming
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
| OpenSource
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| Mame <.106uq2
| ''Placeholder''

|-
| [[XMAME-GUI]]
| %
| [[Image:Java.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| SDL-MAME Only
| ''Placeholder''

|}

''Homepages for these FEs are gone, and are (might?) not active anymore:''

* ''[[Arcade.EXE]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''
* ''[[ArcadeFE]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''
* ''[[ArcadeFX]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''

'''1)''' Type:
* '''Open Source:''' is fully functional software with source code included.
* '''Freeware:''' is fully functional without payment and without nag screens and ads.
* '''Shareware:''' has limited functionality (or has nags) until payment is made.
* '''Commercial:''' software is fully functional for a limited time, after which payment must be made.

'''2)''' About software and hardware rotation:

Most Frontends with vertical support typical require Windows to been rotated as well. Some frontends, such like Mamewah, MultiFE and others support software rotation as well.

'''3)''' Emulators:
* If '''CMD''' is shown, this front-end can run all command line based emulators.
* If '''PC''' is shown, it can run PC games as well (using bat and/or shortcuts files).

'''4)''' Other Features:
*'''DEV''' - Still in developing for fixing bugs or/and supported.
*'''AM''' - Native arcade monitor support without ArcadeVGA card
*'''CAB''' - Mouse and keyboard-free operation (for cabinets)
*'''JB''' - Integrated jukebox
*'''LCD''' - LCD screen, such as those found at http://www.seetron.com/
*'''LED''' - Front-end can control a LED controller
*'''LR''' - Low Resolutions (below 640 pixels wide)
*'''MR''' - Multiple Resolutions
*'''ST''' - Skin tool included
*'''SW''' - Skinnable without tool
*'''TOU''' - Touchscreen Support
*'''VID''' - Video snapshots (movies)

Howover Mamewah and MultiFE (in realtime) have software rotation as well.

Just because a frontend is discontinued does not mean that it is a bad frontend.
Either there is no more need to update it, or the author just left the project.
Discontinued frontends are still used in cabinets today, and most run on both older and newer machines, though some may have some issues with newer versions of MAME.
So check these out as well.

BYOAC OLD Wiki - User contributions [en]

Graphics software

Front-Ends