ABC Guide for Custom default GamEx Bezel for Vetical games?

[stigzler]

[sOLVED - research done, easiest way found. Post below for deliberations, or this ABC guide to DIY (man how I love an acronym) - ttfn ->>>ABC Guide<<< ]

[uPDATE - have knocked together a bezel pack - >>here<< or in EmuMovies FTP Uploads>Stigzler]

[History:]

I know, I know.... this one's been done to death, right? Done lots of reading, but still non the wiser. Need an ABC guide from someone who knows what they're doing.

Situation:

Running a 16:10 monitor @ 1920x1200.

Want to use GameEx's default bezel system to frame vertical games.

Presently, the GamEx bezel frames games, but leaves black bars at edges (presumably due to aspect ratios or something?). Also low resolution for monitor.

Wanted:

A custom bezel running from the edges of the screen to the game display area @ 1920x1200 resolution.

Don't want to change all the bezels in MAME itself.

What I've tried:

Designed a 1920x1200 png and a 1920x1440 png (the later preserves the 640x480 resolution of the original default bezel)

Altered the layout files accordingly.

See attached for these files

All result in no image at all, or diagonal white lines.

Request:

Can anyone give me an ABC guide, please?

Thanks

Steve (progressively Mamed out)

layout files.txt

[nullPointer]

Hi Stigzler

I'd recommend taking a look at this thread, particularly the tools that Krakerman and myself provided links for. I figure there's no point in reinventing the wheel if there are tools available to assist you in the endeavor.

[stigzler]

Thanks null - I did read this post, but doesn't really answer my particular problem. Would appear as though this chap edited some existing bezels.

Read through a lot of threads - really looking for a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

[nullPointer]

I don't think you looked at the tools we linked to from that thread though (or else I'm misunderstanding what you're wanting to do)

Simple Bezel Layout Generator v2.3

and Krak seems to like this one:

Hyper Bezel II

Both of those are tools for the purpose of generating your own bezels.

AFAIK you would use one of those tools to generate your bezel and more importantly your .lay file. Then you would just replace the files in ...\GameEx\MEDIA\BEZELV2

[stigzler]

Oh thanks null - will look into - good idea to produce a master...

Update:

Simple Bezel Layout Generator v2.3 - Doesn't accommodate 16:10 aspect ratios...

[stigzler]

null, yer a star and thanks for your kindly persistence. Hyper Bezel 2 took some figuring - but very impressed with it. It also suits just a 1 design bezel, or it will randomize them! Took a bit of setting up, but once figured - glad of the hours.

True to my word, will set up a step-by-step guide so others in the future don't have to trawl:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/mame-setup#TOC-Random-Bezels-1920x1200-16:10-

Thanks chaps

[nullPointer]

Glad to hear everything is working out for you stigzler! (although I have to credit Krak on the recommendation)

Good on ya for putting together a guide as well. Those who give back to the community are the real stars around here. Thanks man!

[stigzler]

Cheers for the nod! Would love to be doing a guide to everything I'm doing, but just so many things having to get done on this monster. Right.... Control Panel displays next....