Big E’s Tips on Making Your OWN Stick Art

Hey, all! Inspired by a PM I got on Twitter, I decided to write a blog post giving tips on how one can make his OWN stick art. I’m an ‘09er and always had at least some interest in art and design, so soon after I got my first MadCatz SE, I wanted to customize it.

How was that SEVEN YEARS ago already?! O_o

I’ve also always been a more I-wanna-do-it-myself kinda guy. That said, I understand that there are some newbie modders like me that want to have a go at designing sticks themselves, but don’t really have a good idea of where to start. Here are some tips if you want to take matters into your own hands for these projects.

LEARN YOUR SOFTWARE

It may surprise you, but I don’t ACTUALLY use Photoshop! Since about 2007, I’ve used Paint.NET. It’s free, simple and at least for stuff like this, it works really well! No matter if you’re using Paint.NET, GIMP, PhotoShop, etc. you NEED to know your software. In this age, there’s nothing you can’t Google and even BETTER, we now have YouTube. There are so many tutorials online for graphic design. If you don’t know how to do something, look it up! Don’t be afraid of experimentation. Sometimes even just tinkering with certain settings can make things that look okay look great. There nothing wrong with a little trial and error, especially when you can just CTRL+Z something that doesn’t look good. Learn how to use layers and blending modes to get different looks. With enough practice, your designs will be looking great!

YOUR ART IS ONLY AS GOOD AS WHAT YOU USE TO MAKE IT

The word of the day is “high-res”. Find the biggest, sharpest images online to use for your pieces. For arcade sticks, the optimal print resolution is 300dpi, so you’ll need assets to accommodate for that. Using Google Image search, it’s a good idea to type what you're looking for and immediately go to size, larger than, 2MP. See below.

Google Image search of "ryu street fighter" after the size option has been changed

There are lots of things you can try. You can pull a character's name in a different language and search for it instead of the English one. If you FIND a pic that's not quite big enough, right click it and select "search Google for image" to see if a larger version exists online. Also, finding already transparent art is always helpful. Try tossing “png” or “render” into your Google searches.

A little tool that I like using for Anime or even hand-drawn style art is Waifu2X. If you find something that you REALLY like, but it’s not quite big enough and you can't find a larger version on the web, give Waifu a shot. You lose a bit of detail, but it still looks really good in the end. I wouldn’t recommend it for realistic photos, though.

A LITTLE ART THEORY DOESN’T HURT

I’m not sure if there’s such thing as a bad stick art, but I know that without good typography, balance and color temperature, things can look… off. Learning about these art concepts (and more) and their importance can GREATLY improve the look of a design. 

STEAL, STEAL, STEAL! (lol jk)

Draw inspiration from other designers. Don’t feel bad about it. All artists and designers have influences. At least for stick art, my greatest influences are Hibachi Final and d3v from Shoryuken.com.

"Street Fighter X Tekken" Piece by Hibachi Final

SSFIV Gouken Piece by d3v

Speaking of which, be sure to browse the “Official Stick Art” as well as the “Check Out My New Arcade Stick” threads on SRK, if you haven’t already. There are a lot of great ideas and a whole lotta talent.

There have been times when I’ve been asked to do designs for characters and themes that I had absolutely NO history with. A quick Google Image search with that character’s name followed by “wallpaper” was able to help me get the wheels turning, so other stick mods aren’t the only things that may inspire you. 

FINAL TIPS

You’re essentially making REALLY high-res wallpapers with buttons and sticks in the way. When designing, always keep in mind what the colors of your case and parts will be. There are SO many possibilities, so don’t be afraid to get creative with the placement of your buttons and stick.

One Punch Man commission I did earlier this year

Also, while there can be a nagging feeling that something is missing from a design, but a really simple design can be just as effective. My buddy, Sai Evermore is a REALLY big fan of filling up the space on his canvas...

Piece by Sai Evermore featuring Luong from KOF XIV

...but something as simple as this can be just as effective.

That’s about it! Have fun and if this helps you out, please let me know! Also, if something is unclear or you need more help with something, email me and I'll be able to help out.

As always, take care, happy gaming, and God bless,
Big E

bigescustoms@gmail.com
Facebook – facebook.com/bigescustoms
Twitter – twitter.com/bigescustoms (@bigescustoms)
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Artwork Installation for Non-TE2/TE2+ Fightsticks

Hey, everyone! How's it goin'?! As I type this, it's raining cats & dogs in Southern Louisiana right now. It's been raining all day SO much, that I think some guy named Noah is somewhere building a huge boat and 'bout ready to rally up two of every animal! lol Jokes aside, lots of people have water entering their homes and the rain just WON'T let up. We're all kinda locked in here, waiting it out. Law enforcement has asked everyone to stay off the roads unless it's an emergency. Please keep Louisiana in your prayers.

Anyway, this is an instructional post for just about every retail stick that is NOT the MadCatz TE2 or TE2+, so this should work with just about ANY stick (aside from the MadCatz Standard Edtion sticks; no one makes plexis for them). At this point, you should already have your files in the link that I gave you in the message/email or you have your own art. This post should help you with the actual modding of your stick.

CHOICE OF PRINTING

If you got your art from me, you'll find three files in your zipped folder. The PDF named "For DIY" is if you want to do things yourself, A PSD labeled "For GameOnGrafix" (more on that later) and a PSD named "For Art's Hobbies" is, of course, if you want a print and plexi from Arthur Hong of Art's Hobbies (tek-innovations.com). Let's cover that option first.

ART'S HOBBIES 

Arthur requires that you upload the art to him in a zipped folder in a PSD after you order. I HIGHLY recommend Art's Hobbies. His work is flawless and worth the price and the wait. You also need to buy a plexi cover. It costs extra, but I can't stress how PERFECT your art will come out if you order from him. Here's an example of a stick that was modded using his services:

If you believe that price may be an issue, go to this link on his site and add the appropriate items to your cart. ATTENTION: What you choose will depend on whether or not you have/want a bezel on your stick. Consult the image below for assistance. (NOTE: This only applies to the MadCatz Tournament Edition arcade sticks that have or can add a bezel.)

After adding the first appropriate item to your cart, the site will ask you for what state/country you're in and will calculate how much it will cost to ship to you. Add the other to see the exact amount art from Art's Hobbies will cost you.

Also (if you decide to go with Art), when selecting the “Artwork Print...”, be sure to select the appropriate hole cutouts depending on whether or not you're using Sanwa or Seimitsu clear buttons. With this you can get fancy with your designs and have the art come through the buttons like the Powerpuff Girls stick above.

If you aren't doing this, I don't believe it matters which you choose. You'll have 30mm holes which can be used for any button type (Sanwa, Seimitsu, Gamer Finger, etc.) as long as they're 30mm buttons.

THE DIY METHOD

An alternate route is the DIY method. If you want to print it yourself at a print shop, use the PDF file (labeled "For DIY"). Be sure to tell them print it at actual size without resizing it. 11 x 17 inch paper is what's needed for artwork this size. Have them print a lami label. Here is a link to a top-to-bottom mod of a SFIV Mad Catz Standard Edition FightStick. It's the same process for a TE/TE-S, HRAPs (and most retail sticks, actually), so don't worry.

Now the lami label works, but it has its draw backs. Number one, it'll most likely peel over time, meaning you'll have to go back to the print shop and do it all again eventually. You also have to be VERY CAREFUL when cutting (ESPECIALLY on that darn turbo section) or else a bad cutting job will take away from the design, no matter how good it is. Allow me to toot my own horn. *Toot!* lol

GAMEONGRAFIX

There's also GameOnGrafix. This is kinda a hybrid of using a third party and the diy method. You get a really durable, high quality print like you would using Arthur's services, but you don't have the luxury of someone cutting your artwork for you.

Anyway, GameOnGrafix's stuff is GREAT. It's the same material that's used on actual arcade control panels, so it's really durable. It's made to last. They're quicker than Arthur and the quality is on par. They're a bit pricier and like the lami label method, a bad cutting job can take away from a good design. Here's a link to EXACTLY where you need to go should you decide to order from them. Their site is kinda clunky admittedly. If you decide to go with them, send them the PSD labeled "For GameOnGrafix". Also, Be sure to tell them to ship it flat! They usually send it in a cylindrical tube and creases formed in my art the last time I chose them. You should buy the “adhesive backed option”. If your stick has a bezel, the size option you need to tell them is 14 x 8.5 inches. Without a bezel, 15 x 10 inches.

In my opinion, Art's Hobbies is the best option. It's high quality stuff and perhaps the most effortless.

PANEL PREP

Okay, now that you art's been ordered/taken care of, you gotta prepare you panel for modding. You need to remove and clean the metal panel that holds everything in place for art modding. No matter what method you choose, you'll need to do this. Here's a vid I found of a guy art modding his stick. He even used Art's Hobbies! It's not bad, though, he should have completely removed the glue from his panel. To do this, use acetone with cotton balls. My preferred method is getting the panel COMPLETELY by itself and scrubbing it with warm, soapy water, Goo Gone and steel wool. Goo Gone really gets that tough glue off. If you're having trouble peeling off the stock art, a flat-head screwdriver works really well to start it off.

That's about it! Let me know if you need any more help. If you got your art from me, thank you for your purchase! It was good to work with you.

Take care, happy gaming and God bless,
Big E

Email – bigescustoms@gmail.com
Facebook – facebook.com/bigescustoms/
Twitter – twitter.com/bigescustoms (@bigescustoms)
Instagram – instagram.com/bigescustoms (@bigescustoms)
Blog – bigescustoms.blogspot.com

Happy EVO 2016!

It's finally here everyone! The FGC's Super Bowl has arrived! Whether you're in Vegas goin' 0 and 2 or at home, stream-monstering it up, have a happy and safe EVO weekend.

To celebrate, I made some freebie EVO designs for the TE2/TE2+ for both PlayStation and XBox One sticks. If you'd like one for your stick that isn't a TE2, email me a request and I'll do one for that particular stick.

TE2 / TE2+ PlayStation Link

TE2 / TE2+ Xbox One Link

Speaking of EVO sticks, did you all see those SICK limited edition EVO TE2s?

They've all been sold and apparently went for like $500.  O_o  Whoa...

That's about it, everyone! Again, enjoy your weekend!
- Big E

TE2 / TE2+ Artwork Installation Instructions

Whew! It's been a WHILE since I last posted here! Busy, busy, busy with art commissions and job searching. This is a post I should have made a LONG time ago. Most of the folks that work with me have TE2s/TE2+s and still need instruction on what to do next. I usually supply them with an instructional PDF, but I think it'll be best to have a blog post for mobile users and for folks that don't wanna keep looking at the PDF over and over. Feel free to favorite this on your web browser!

Anyway, I'm assuming that if you got this far, you've already got your artwork from me, from someone else or you made it yourself. Thus will help you with the actual modding of your stick.

PRINTING

There are two files in your zipped folder (this is if you bought your artwork from me). One is named "For Art's Hobbies". Of course, this is for if you want to get your work done by Arthur Hong of Art's Hobbies (tek-Innovations.com). I HIGHLY recommend Art's Hobbies. His work is flawless and worth the price and the wait. To match his art cuts, you should get a new plexi. Since the MadCatz plexi goes around the buttons and his artwork goes underneath the buttons, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to get his plexi, but I the buttons may grind on the artwork since they turn sometimes. That's not an issue for the stock art, but since your custom art will most likely be printed on paper or cardstock, there may be visible wear over time. Art's plexi will protect your artwork since it fits under the buttons and not around them.

EDIT (5/2/16): I recently cracked open a TE2+ for a friend and art modded his stick. It seems that MadCatz has these little plastic washers that helps push the buttons up over the plexi. They're ALSO printing the artwork on cardstock. The Killer Instinct TE2s didn't do this! It was printed on a heavy-duty vinyl or something. Anyway, if you're getting your artwork from Arthur, be sure to also buy a plexicover from his site.

EDIT (6/3/16): Ok, so I had a customer that got the art printed by Arthur, but didn't buy a plexi from him. The customer told me that as long as you keep the plastic washers that are on the buttons that separate them from the panel, you should be good. I haven't verified it myself.

Getting your art from Art's Hobbies costs extra, but I can't stress how AMAZING your art will come out if you do everything with him. Here's an example of a project I've recently done using his services:

If you believe that price may be an issue, go to this link on his site and add both the “Mad Catz TE2 Cover” and the “Artwork Print and Cut – TE2” items to your cart. After adding the first item to your cart, the site will ask you for what state/country you're in and will calculate how much it will cost to ship to you. Add the other to see the exact amount art from Art's Hobbies will cost you.

Also (if you decide to go with Art), when selecting the “Artwork Print...”, be sure to select the appropriate hole cutouts depending on whether or not you're using Sanwa or Seimitsu clear buttons. With this you can get fancy with your designs and have the art come through the buttons.

Of course, this can also be done without Arthur cutting the art for you, using alternative methods, but I can't stress how easy this is with his artwork print and cut service. If you aren't doing this, I don't believe it matters which you choose. You'll have 30mm holes which can be used for any button type (Sanwa, Seimitsu, Gamer Finger, etc.) as long as they're 30mm buttons.

The alternate route is the DIY method. If you want to print it yourself at a print shop, use the PDF file (labeled "For DIY"). IMPORTANT: Be sure to tell them print it at actual size without resizing it. 11 x 17 inch paper is what's needed for artwork this size. You'll notice on the PDF file that there are no borders or holes for the stick and buttons. Once printed, you need to use the plexi to cut the holes by laying the art flat on it and tracing it with an XACTO knife or an ink pen (a video below shows the ease of the ink pen method). The holes on the art are only there to give you an idea of what it will look like and also serves as a guide for the designer so that he/she doesn't block a character's face or something when creating the art. It's a general idea, but not exact.

If you leave the guides on there when you print it, you run the risk of THIS happening:

INSTALLATION

Here are two vids that can help with artwork installation:

Part 1: File Prep

Part 2: Artwork Installation

For the DIY method, follow the vids and you should be good. If you've never done anything like this before, don't worry about messing up on the cuts. The TE2 is cleverly designed so that imperfect cuts are hidden. The outer cuts are hidden by the plastic bezel and like on most sticks, the buttons and dustwasher on the stick hide THOSE cuts. If you're still not sure, get two or three prints. They don't cost that much extra and you get to practice. If you can get it on your first or second try, you have an extra! This is great in case you spill or something and need a new one, but don't want to run to the print shop.

As for installation with the Art Hong print out & plexi, from bottom to top the layers are...

- bottom panel/stock art

- your art

- plexi

- buttons & dustwasher

For the mod with Art's plexi, you will need to remove the buttons completely and unplug them from the quick disconnects, remove the plexi and frame after removing the necessary screws, lay the custom artwork down and put everything back in place following the order above. You won't be able to slide the art under the buttons like KrizmKazm did in that second vid, especially since Arthur prints on cardstock.

That's about it! Let me know if you need any more help. 

Take care, happy gaming and God bless,

Big E

Email – bigescustoms@gmail.com

Facebook – facebook.com/bigescustoms/

Twitter – twitter.com/bigescustoms (@bigescustoms)

Instagram – instagram.com/bigescustoms (@bigescustoms)

Blog – bigescustoms.blogspot.com

Street Fighter V Giveaway

So, I'm kinda broke (lol) and can't get a PS4 at the moment, so I figured that a good way to support Capcom in their release of Street Fighter V and also help my Instagram to grow would be to give the game away. 

If you don't have a copy of the game yet, go to my Instagram and give it a shot. You might win. #YouNeverKnow

Happy gaming and God bless,

Big E

SFV TE2 Art Freebies

Happy Street Fighter V Day, everyone! FINALLY, the game's been released! To celebrate, I decided to make some simple designs of all the available characters using their official artwork. The looks are inspired by the Chun-Li TE2 that MadCatz release a little while back. Now, you can add YOUR favorite character on your TE2 and if you missed out on the Chun-Li TE2, I made one for her, too!

Here's a link to each character. In the zip folder includes instructions on how to proceed and three files. Be sure to read the instructions PDF to know what to use and where. These are for PS4 TE2s only. Sorry. If you want one for another stick, let me know and I'll make it. If you want something more elaborate or stylish, that'll cost ya. Email me if you're interested in a commission.

Happy gaming and God bless,
Big E

______________

Ryu

Chun-Li

Nash

M. Bison

Cammy

Birdie

Vega

Ken

R. Mika

Karin

Zangief

Dhalsim

Necalli

Rashid

Laura

F.A.N.G