DCS Delftware
Based on porcelain art
(https://i.imgur.com/xo2Impy.jpg)
We're in GB now click here to go to the GB post (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=112032)
(https://i.imgur.com/7c9fQTH.png)
Delftware is a set based on old porcelain artwork, painted by hand, the font and sublegends have all been chosen in order to make a set that looks refined but a little bit imperfect. I picked the theme a) because porcelain stuff is really cool if you think about the effort that goes into making it, and b) because blue and white are super awesome colours which look great together (see every other blue and white keycap set ever made). The sublegends and novelties were all designed being heavily based on actual porcelain artwork, in order to fit the theme better.
This set will run in dye-sublimated PBT in DCS profile by Signature Plastics (SP) to allow for many unique sublegends without increased tooling cost. As the set will be run by SP the typeface has been updated from what was proposed in the previous renders to Gorton - see images of the samples below. All renders will have been updated with a similar (but not identical) font to reflect this.
Dedicated discord channels to discuss the set here (https://discord.gg/4QmYnyYbhw), courtesy of NZ streamer Epsilon Keyboards.
Keycap samples and colours
(https://i.imgur.com/wIgsVuD.png)
More
The base kit and dye-sub PBT are using SP's default PBT colour WAN. The dye-sub legends in the sample above closely match Pantone 2726C. Based on responses from the IC form this will be the final blue.
(https://i.imgur.com/lz3jWhd.png)
Kits:
Disclaimer: Renders + fonts used are a representation of the final product but are not 100% accurate due to limitations. Renders are done with Cherry profile caps, with a similar but not identical font. Font during production will be Gorton as used for DCS Red Alert and DCS Yuri.
Base kit | $140USD | 250 MOQ
(https://i.imgur.com/fNFk45K.png)
Some slight adjustments to this kit were made but it should still support almost all TKL, 75%, 65%, 60% and alice boards, with some 40% and ortho boards. UK-ISO was added. 2-Mar unpdate: Minivan support was added, some ortho keys removed to allow for this. Split spacebars are not convex.
Numpad kit | $34USD | 100 MOQ
(https://i.imgur.com/FVaAz25.png)
Removed the accent coloured modifiers with only accent Return key kept.
Novelties kit | $39USD | 100 MOQ
(https://i.imgur.com/EJSCPnD.png)
Deskmats - $17USD each
We have three deskmat designs for Delftware:
Pattern
(https://i.imgur.com/MmFZBUC.png)
Inverse Pattern
(https://i.imgur.com/zYiK7mz.png)
Place Setting
(https://i.imgur.com/G1CQ9F4.png)
RAMA cap | $56USD | 100 MOQ
PVD Brass keycap in DCS R1 profile
(https://i.imgur.com/Lj5e2XW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XHTCnxh.png)
Regional proxies:
- NA - Project Keyboard (https://store.projectkeyboard.com/)
- EU - mykeyboard.eu (https://mykeyboard.eu/)
- Asia - ILUMKB (https://ilumkb.com/)
- AU - Daily Clack (https://dailyclack.com/)
- Canada - AlphaKeys.ca (https://alphakeys.ca/)
- UK - ProtoTypist (https://prototypist.net/)
Board renders:
More
Bean - Kingk22
(https://i.imgur.com/7c9fQTH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/oT0mZj0.png)
Silver En Dash - Finderworks
(https://i.imgur.com/DHarjJM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cNDY2sQ.png)
PC Tengu - Finderworks
(https://i.imgur.com/94WLare.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FqAGZqW.png)
Navy Constellation - AEboards
(https://i.imgur.com/ErZ3sJ7.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/DwwGHZQ.png)
What's left to do?
Big thank you to all that have helped, Kingk22 (again) for renders and emotional support, Agilr for feedback on the design and colour matching, Would for advice on typography and fonts, Gok for advice on designing a dyesub keycap set and general design tips, Epsilon for general support and letting me piggyback off your discord channel, Peaches for emotional support, and the Finder Works and NZ discord groups and IC form fillers for general feedback. Couldn't have done it without you guys <3
Discord here (https://discord.gg/4QmYnyYbhw)
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/l9TLkyX.png)
stop using discordcdn images please for the love of everything sacred
You taught me to always move my pics to a imgur album! hahaha
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/l9TLkyX.png)
stop using discordcdn images please for the love of everything sacred
The existing renders are a bit old and need some tweaks, I'll make sure to move everything to imgur when I get new renders. Thanks for pointing this out.
I feel like this may benefit from sublegends or something similar, as a way of adding more blue to the set without overpowering. Maybe dutch sublegends if that's a thing.
The idea of the set was to design unique sublegends for every key, the first render was an example of the first three sublegends I designed. I've got another ~40 unique sublegends that I'm in the process of creating. I'm going to get new renders done with unique sublegends on all alphas, and with limited sublegends (like with CRP tulip for example) based on feedback from the IC.
I'm 100% in for at least two sets. I was contemplating learning about GBs this year and trying to run "gmk blue danube" because it's my mom's favorite china. This removes any amount of effort I have to invest :)
My only thoughts are the blue looks wrong. I'm using a pixelbook chromebook so maybe the color reproduction of the screen is poor.
These colours are not final. I was originally looking to design a GMK set based on Mercy from Overwatch but then Classic Blue was announced and I decided to find new inspiration. I've already looked at a RAL colour deck and couldn't find a blue I was happy with, so I've ordered a pantone colour deck and will find some new colour options for the refreshed renders. The white will be different too - these renders have WS1 white but PBT white is closer in colour to WS2.
If you're going for EPBT then personally I'd ask for an international kit so I could have proper UK legends - child kits essentially have a MOQ of 1 for EPBT (base has MOQ of 200).
If you're going for Infinikey then TKC already has kits in place that designers have to use (though they can add others, as long as it's something TKC is willing to buy out - child kits have a MOQ of 300 for Infinikey, making them basically impossible without help).
Wasn't aware of the different MOQ for each - thanks for the info. If I go with ePBT an international kit would be on the cards. Maybe I could also add a colevrak+ kit :)
Also as another note, Agilr pointed out my 40s compatibility was lacking so I'll be adding the following keys to the base kit (to be reflected in new renders):
- R2 1u Tab
- R3 1u Esc
- R2 1u Enter
This is making the base kit fairly bloated - if the pricing for base turns out being too high, I'll create a 40s kit instead of having it in base.
Novelties kit also incoming. Stay tuned! And thank you to everyone that's filled out the IC form, your suggestions have been very helpful :)
Small update - will have updated kit renders in the next week or two. I'm waiting on my pantone deck (ETA 24 Feb) to arrive to settle on a final blue. Pantone 293C has been used for the renders so far, will see how it looks in person and try a few colours. I've also updated the images in the first post to use imgur instead of copying the link straight from Discord.
I've finished designing 27 unique sublegends. In order to fill all 47 alpha keys I'll be reusing/flipping/rotating some of these. Here's a little spoiler of what's to come:
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/pTMDCt3.jpg)
Novelties kit is coming! Thanks everyone for your novelty ideas. Based on the suggestions I've received and some research, I have a kit planned which will be added to the main post when the rest of the renders are refreshed.
I'll also be adding an alphas kit where only some keys have sublegends to give everyone a choice of how busy they want their keycaps to look.
Since you already have 27 sublegends, I think an alphas kit or base with only the alphabets having sublegends would be nice. A more consistent look with all alphas having 2 legends and none with 3.
Small update - will have updated kit renders in the next week or two. I'm waiting on my pantone deck (ETA 24 Feb) to arrive to settle on a final blue. Pantone 293C has been used for the renders so far, will see how it looks in person and try a few colours. I've also updated the images in the first post to use imgur instead of copying the link straight from Discord.
I've finished designing 27 unique sublegends. In order to fill all 47 alpha keys I'll be reusing/flipping/rotating some of these. Here's a little spoiler of what's to come:
Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/pTMDCt3.jpg)
Novelties kit is coming! Thanks everyone for your novelty ideas. Based on the suggestions I've received and some research, I have a kit planned which will be added to the main post when the rest of the renders are refreshed.
I'll also be adding an alphas kit where only some keys have sublegends to give everyone a choice of how busy they want their keycaps to look.
Just do that cool sublegends for Latin legends
Thank you for the feedback, if the consensus is to move back to a more 'default' font, I can do that - let me know in the IC form (already got one response stating this).
I'd like to explain why I picked this specific font though - the sublegends I've designed have all come from examples of delftware I've searched through the internet for, and although I was using vector images to mimic these, I've tried to keep them looking a little 'off' to mimic the small deviations that come through when you're handpainting such intricate designs. In order to fit the theme I spent many hours looking through various websites, even trying my hand at designing a new font from scratch, in order to look similar to how the signatures on the bottom looked. I referred to this image constantly:
Show Image
(https://craftsdigger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/porcelaine-delft-festival-design-signatures-1280x720.png)
Instead of trying to go for something completely crazy, I felt using something with a handwritten style that was close to the GMK legends was the way to go, as delftware is handpainted, it felt wrong using such a consistent looking font. I understand with this hobby that consistency is usually king, but in my opinion, this set isn't about being consistent but about the beauty in something that is handmade.
TL;DR: Let me know in the IC form and I will change it back.
Thank you for the explanation. I definitely understand where you're coming from, and why the change makes sense given the inspiration of this set. I also applaud your efforts; creating a typeface is no easy task! You've certainly done a good job of mimicking the hand-painted look of the lettering, so I would say that you've achieved your goal there. Now, of course, this is just one man's opinion, but I believe there's a fine line to be drawn between sticking close to the source material and respecting the aesthetics and conventions of the medium (in this case, Cherry-style plastic keycaps). And in this case, the different overall font crosses that line just slightly.
Again, just my opinion! I think you've done a great job regardless of which style you decide on in the end :)