Overlay Files

NZSPY

where do I put overlay and backdrop files for Mame .219 and also for vectrex, Some arcade games and nearly all of the vectrex games need them to be playable. These are different to the bezels re decorations. For example Space Invaders has 3 files, a Bezel, a overlay and a Backdrop to correctly emulate the original cabinet. See example here https://mrdo.mameworld.info/mame_artwork/invaders.png
With standard MAME install you would just put the correctly named files in the Artwork folder and they get loaded with the roms

Lizard

You do not need multiple files for overlays. Al you need is a single PNG file and the CFG file that goes with it. There are plenty available on the net for retroarch/raspberry pi/emulationstation. Amongst my favorite is the stuff by Orion's Angel and you can see them on Youtube. You would want to put them in the share/system/.config/retroarch/overlay folder. For my own preference I put them in a folder called Mame Overlays in the overlay folder as I did the same with the Vectrex overlays I made. At this point you would use retroarch to chose the file you want and resize it to fit the size and scale you prefer.

NZSPY

Thanks Lizard, that explains where I need to put my files etc. I've been playing with the standard botacera decorations process and downloaded all the vectrex png files from the bezel project and put them into the Decorations/games/vectrex and they all just magically worked perfectly, without even creating the .info files for them. including the transparency of the overlay, not quite sure how the system knows how to render them correctly but it does, so I'm not complaining. but I will try the reproach overlay path for ones that are more complicated, IE space invaders that needs a bezel, a backdrop and a overlay to look correct

Lizard

Not sure about having to have all those parts. I think I remember Hyperspin or one of those need all that. With Retroarch you just need is a single PNG. The transparency is within the file itself. The games as needed come through just fine and look natural. Ones like Space Invaders, Boot Hill, Asteroids Deluxe and so on have that faded back to it. It can be captured in a single PNG for simplicity's sake.

I created some Vectrex backdrops a while back for Retropie which also uses Retroarch and Emulationstation. They too have the transparency to show the card insert that was required. Here a re a few examples of what I created. If you don't have these single files I might be able to put them up somewhere for you to use. you would use them just like you would for MAME.

BERSERK - https://www.dropbox.com/s/8b9b6ykt2o0rbqp/berserk.jpg?dl=0
ARMOR ATTACK - https://www.dropbox.com/s/xf3z2dtf52bj9yv/armor%20attack.jpg?dl=0
MINESTORM - https://www.dropbox.com/s/95pjomf5lixfvwd/minestorm.jpg?dl=0
SCRAMBLE - https://www.dropbox.com/s/n8qdb5n6yiy245m/scramble.jpg?dl=0
SPINBALL - https://www.dropbox.com/s/mjahhd4pfr07lev/spinball.jpg?dl=0
STARHAWK - https://www.dropbox.com/s/mhpa4vw2653n88g/starhawk.jpg?dl=0

NZSPY

wow they look fantastic