When creating gauges is it better to restrict the gauge bitmaps to the face of the gauge only and to draw the bezel, etc. on the panel backgound or include the whole gauge in the gauge bitmaps and show none of it on the panel background?

Depends on the panel, but if you put the gauge surround on the panel bitmap, it allows you to perhaps have a second panel bitmap with night lighting effects that would be applied to the gauge surrounds as well and therefore look more realistic.cheers,nick.

I'm with Nick on this one... There are advantages both ways, and a lot of how you decide to build it is dependent on the type of gauge and how it's going to be used.As Nick mentioned, one big advantage is with the bezel part of the panel's artwork, it's much easier to "blend it in" with the rest of the panel, provide proper drop shadowing, and lighting effects.OTOH, if your gauge has "text on buttons" You might be better off keeping the bezel/frame within the gauge.