[IC] - Star Wars keycaps - Sith Edition

[sakai4eva]

As titled.

Will edit this post with pictures/mockups later, but for now, just wanna gauge the interest level for a Sith inspired keycap set.

Some points for consideration:
1. Main colour themes will be Black (what black?) and Red (what red?).
2. Materials would seem to require ABS for best contrast.
3. Novelties - specifically, which logos can we use without infringing on copyrights.
4. Profile? For once, I wouldn't mind DCS but SA would fit the theme better, amirite? CDS/Cherry-like would also open the possibilities to something from GMK, although I'm unsure if we'll ever reach the MOQ there.
5. Finish? Glossy-ish finish would look extremely badass, IMO, but I'm open to suggestions.

If this picks up steam, I'm open to a Jedi-based set also, but my focus is on the dark side because I can never seem to find a decent "evil" themed set (I'm acutely aware of the Pulse and Midnight GBs, tqvm) save for the sanctuary set.

So, hit reply and tell me what you think.

p/s: first time, be gentle.

[Matt3o]

I see copyright issues here....

[sakai4eva]

Yeah, I get that copyrights might be an issue, but I'm actually just looking to make a black and red set while stepping on nobody's toes

Hence, Sith-inspired.

I will, of course, remove all offending materials, but at this point it's just a dream/discussion

[Matt3o]

just for the record

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52512.0

[sakai4eva]

Thanks. Saves me some trouble since I'm not sure what everyone would want.

[LechnerDE]

just for the record

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52512.0

Oh man, I already forgot about this

Is your statement still valid?

it seems we will move the "macross" and "midnight" sets first.

[sakai4eva]

With all these excitement and planning for SA sets... I might be launching this in time for Episode 7.

[DanielT]

There is no such thing as Episode7 There are only ... 6
The joke apart I would love a Star Wars themed set, huge fan, especially episodes 4-6 
@sakai4eva: does your username has something to do with Stan Sakai ? Sorry for OT, but had to ask

[Matt3o]

There is no such thing as Episode7 There are only ... 6
The joke apart I would love a Star Wars themed set, huge fan, especially episodes 4-6 
@sakai4eva: does your username has something to do with Stan Sakai ? Sorry for OT, but had to ask

there's no 4-6. there's only 1-3 (the original trilogy).

[LechnerDE]

There is no such thing as Episode7 There are only ... 6
The joke apart I would love a Star Wars themed set, huge fan, especially episodes 4-6 
@sakai4eva: does your username has something to do with Stan Sakai ? Sorry for OT, but had to ask

there's no 4-6. there's only 1-3 (the original trilogy).

Matt3o knows what's up!

[sakai4eva]

There is no such thing as Episode7 There are only ... 6
The joke apart I would love a Star Wars themed set, huge fan, especially episodes 4-6 
@sakai4eva: does your username has something to do with Stan Sakai ? Sorry for OT, but had to ask

there's no 4-6. there's only 1-3 (the original trilogy).

Reminds me of the time my date and I walked out of Phantom Menace. It was unbearably boring for us older folk.

[DanielT]

@matt3o: you are right, there is only 1-3.
For me Empire Strikes Back is one of the nicest memories of my childhood, is the first movie I remember seeing with my father. It was an extraordinary experience for a child living in a communist country. I saw that movie 3 or 4 times during that period. So a set with this theme is something I would love to have next to the Galaxy Class LCARS set.

[sakai4eva]

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/layouts/34c5a237941acf4dadd4989c38db1c8c

Just a quick mockup. Had to use slightly more muted reds or I'll go blind.

[Elrick]

With all these excitement and planning for SA sets... I might be launching this in time for Episode 7.

If you're going to make an SA set based upon the Greatest Evil that has ever existed in the Galaxy, then it has to look menacing and supremely seductive  .

The only downside for you is labeling it appropriately without SP getting into trouble for producing it.  Of course if you decided to go with Imsto you could get away with using official icons from the film(s).

[sakai4eva]

Imsto doesn't do doubleshot SA in ABS. Which is my preferred approach.

Although using the actual Sith icons would be a tempting proposition...

[Elrick]

Imsto doesn't do doubleshot SA in ABS. Which is my preferred approach.

Although using the actual Sith icons would be a tempting proposition...

I know he produces OEM profile which is the Chinese Standard.  He can make them in PBT of course, for the PBT fanatics out there - but then you can't really use all black key-caps because nothing can be printed (dye-subbed) upon them  .

So going with SA profile with SP you'll need to ditch any connotations with anything relating to "STAR WARS" since SP won't ever risk their existence pleasing a few here on Geekhack.  Definitely stick with these 2 colours RED and BLACK because it exemplifies the essence of "EVIL"  .

No one has done an all evil key-set in SA Profile, so you may be the first individual to go there.

[Data]

I'd hoped this would be about Star Wars themed novelty caps.  My board desperately needs a Boba Fett key.  Oh well, we keep on dreamin'...

[SpAmRaY]

Imsto doesn't do doubleshot SA in ABS. Which is my preferred approach.

Although using the actual Sith icons would be a tempting proposition...

I know he produces OEM profile which is the Chinese Standard.  He can make them in PBT of course, for the PBT fanatics out there - but then you can't really use all black key-caps because nothing can be printed (dye-subbed) upon them  .

So going with SA profile with SP you'll need to ditch any connotations with anything relating to "STAR WARS" since SP won't ever risk their existence pleasing a few here on Geekhack.  Definitely stick with these 2 colours RED and BLACK because it exemplifies the essence of "EVIL"  .

No one has done an all evil key-set in SA Profile, so you may be the first individual to go there.

I thought IMSTO always worked in cherry profile?? You know like all the group buys Ivan has run through IMSTO have been cherry profile and the sets IMSTO sells himself are cherry profile.

[sakai4eva]

There is a middle ground approach here... I can organize the bulk of it via SP, and then run a separate GB for novelties in IMSTO.

I would then have to make everything in DSC/Cherry-like though, not sure if that will be desirable.

However, my main selling point would actually be that this keyset is a keyset designed for old-school evil look, with blacks and reds being the main attraction.

Also need some ideas as to what icons/logos and phrases I can "appropriate" without breaking copyrights.

[IvanIvanovich]

I did a Darkside set...

but barely anyone bought them.

[ApocalypseMaow]

I did a Darkside set...

Show Image

but barely anyone bought them.

I'm sorry I missed that!

[sakai4eva]

I did a Darkside set...

Show Image

but barely anyone bought them.

I guess that was a little too far into the dark side...

I'm planning something more legible instead of Otaku black, with high chances of it being Red legends and black caps, inverse for mods. 

Do you mind if I borrow some elements?

I did a Darkside set...

Show Image

but barely anyone bought them.

I'm sorry I missed that!

Yeah, I wasn't really paying attention to that either.

[Findecanor]

I'd hoped this would be about Star Wars themed novelty caps.  My board desperately needs a Boba Fett key.  Oh well, we keep on dreamin'...

There was a run of novelty keys months ago with lots of logos, including the Boba Fett skull. The red Rebel bird was also included, and the Imperial cog logo but unfortunately with white and black reversed.

The only thing I want for myself is really the imperial cog on the Windows key ... because Microsoft is the Evil Empire, amirite? ... Google, Oracle and Apple are just as evil, but anyway...

[Elrick]

I thought IMSTO always worked in cherry profile?? You know like all the group buys Ivan has run through IMSTO have been cherry profile and the sets IMSTO sells himself are cherry profile.

Of course you are right about that. I was off my face when I typed my crap here in this section (like most of Geekhack)  .

[absyrd]

I'll say it again like I did with the Ragnarock set... there is NO contrast between red and black, especially in non-daylight situations. I assume people use keyboards inside. IMO, this is basically like using blanks. That is, unless there is a much lighter red (think bright lighstaber) without it being pink.

I wish there was a triple-shot or infil way of highlighting around legends. Could do black with red legends with thin white highlight. That'd be so sick.

[sakai4eva]

Not sure about the lack of contrast, because from what I can see in the Ragnarock set it seems like it is still visible.

If we use a thicker font, will it be better?

[IvanIvanovich]

Feel free to take whatever inspiration you like from mine. I borrowed very heavy from the Razer SWTOR keyboard design anyway.

[Elrick]

I borrowed very heavy from the Razer SWTOR keyboard design anyway.

Shock and horror, using Razer's ideas to fill a keyboard  .   Ivan how could you  ?

[SL89]

I did a Darkside set...

Show Image

but barely anyone bought them.

i thought you didn't end up meeting MOQ Ivan?

[Data]

What about something based on the Imperial Royal Guard?





There's a lot of red in Sith culture, most notably in their lightsabers.  Why not use it as the base color?  A deep red key set with black or silver legends might look pretty rad.

[Elrick]

What about something based on the Imperial Royal Guard?

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

There's a lot of red in Sith culture, most notably in their lightsabers.  Why not use it as the base color?  A deep red key set with black or silver legends might look pretty rad.

Definitely, you could have the majority of keys in Red with Black legends but all the Modifiers must be in BLACK with Silver Legends.

[sakai4eva]

I thought black is more dominant as a colour for the Sith. Of course, with more than a splash of blood red.

Silver as a third accent colour might work though.

Colourways aren't my concern right now because that can be worked out easily

Biggest headache right now is how to incorporate certain lines and art in without breaking the copyrights because I want to make it SA profile for ultimate badassery.

I'm thinking "FORCE" for some modifiers (1.25x?) and maybe "RULE OF ONE" and "RULE OF TWO". I wonder if SP can make glow in the dark caps in red...

Anybody know if these images are copyright?

[Data]

Good luck using anything vaguely familiar as Star Wars.  Unless you design it yourself somebody, somewhere will probably assert a copyright.

Not sure how Ivan got away with using Aurebesh in his GB.  Disney/Lucasfilm owns all of that ****.

[sakai4eva]

Ivan went IMSTO, IIRC.

I guess the word "FORCE" should be generic enough.

Maybe I can incorporate the Sith mantra in somewhere...

[Data]

You might throw in CHOKE and SHOCK legends as well. 

And what's a Star Wars key set without a MIND TRICK key?

[sakai4eva]

Heh. Nice.

I suppose "LIGHTNING" is out o question?

In other news, I need to replay SW:KOTOR and go all Sith again.

[Data]

Lightning might be too long for most keys.  Could work, I dunno.

Some other candidates:
SEETHE
MAUL
STRIKE
PUSH/PULL
THROW
CLOAK
LEAP
CHARGE/OVERCHARGE
RAGE
FURY
IMPALE

[Elrick]

MAUL

That character alone is worth this Key-set  .  When I first saw him on the screen I wished I had his full face/head tatt and his head horns, simply the most interesting character yet released from George Lucas.

Pity the poor guy met his end because he deserves some recognition here as the only coolest looking Sith Lord yet seen, he even makes Vader look like a traditional pvssy.

[sakai4eva]

I still have no idea where to check for copyrights of Star Wars stuff. Don't like to bother Melissa with anything unless I have some concrete designs ready

[DanielT]

MAUL

That character alone is worth this Key-set  .  When I first saw him on the screen I wished I had his full face/head tatt and his head horns, simply the most interesting character yet released from George Lucas.

Pity the poor guy met his end because he deserves some recognition here as the only coolest looking Sith Lord yet seen, he even makes Vader look like a traditional pvssy.

You should read the comics, Darth Maul is not a Sith easy to kill, no even cut in half  . This is one bad ass Sith