Hi all. I'm undertaking the r&d of a keycap design rendering app/tool/utility. I'm not calling it an app just yet, because I'd like to approach this with appropriate design thinking methodology, and start off on the right foot. That means gathering data and research.
The issue:There is currently a barrier to entry to design a custom keycap set. Yes, the designer should possess a requisite knowledge of material, tooling, shapes etc. But I believe anyone should be able to create a presentable colour set without needing to learn CAD to accomplish it.
So to get the ball rolling, I have a survey I'd like you to fill out:
If you successfully launched a set of keycaps from start to finish, please fill out this survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7V-jZgT7TY_2e2WlHdX1qewgW15AISJ6QQJWAFg6Bk0T0kQ/viewform?usp=sf_linkIf you have not launched a set, but you'd like to, fill out this survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7wj66d3sP89Fdpt2Jj9T14pkdVP9A8F5GFU1-9VNKqX4IVg/viewform?usp=sf_linkI'll follow up with key insights, and next steps.
In the meantime, I'd appreciate growing this thread with any tools you know of that in some way help designing keycaps. For example:
- keyboard layout editor
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/ - where it all begins
-
http://kle-render.herokuapp.com/ - server-side 2d render by CQ_Cumbers
- kbrenders(
https://kbrenders.herokuapp.com/) - server-side photorealistic renderers by CQ_Cumbers
- blender (
https://www.blender.org/) - open source polygon modeller
Looking forward to making something great with you folks. For a bit of history, see this thread
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=93494.0.