What is keycap shine?

[TastaturenAuslese]

I've had this question on my mind for some time now.

Is shine:
(1) the result of your finger oil's sticking to the caps;
(2) the result of constant use rubbing away the texture on top of the caps and kind of "sanding" it down to a shine; or,
(3) a combination of both?

2 makes more sense to me, because PBT, being a stronger material than ABS, is more resistant to shine. If 2 were true, then it's because PBT is harder and thus not as easy to sand/polish down to a shine with your fingers.

Any thoughts? :3 For keyboard science, of course.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

2, as a result of 1 + 2

so 3

but mostly 2

[rowdy]

1 in the short term, 2 in the long term.

[Zensuji]

Its where you keep taking a shine to new sets and can't stop buying them

[Magna224]

Keycaps are worn down to the point of shining. Wearing down the texture. It might be oil/dirt on human hands though as I've never worn down keycaps to the point of shine myself even cheapo stock keycaps.

[jdcarpe]

[Oobly]

2, as a result of 1 + 2

so 3

but mostly 2

+1

Embrace the shine...

[BucklingSpring]

And as you mentioned, some material more prone than other.

Topre spacebars are notorious for premature shining.

[demik]

And as you mentioned, some material more prone than other.

Topre spacebars are notorious for premature shining.

What exactly is considered premature?

And op, keycap shine is what some people here that treat keyboards as fashion accessories complain about. Can't let a little shine ruin it matching the rest of your outfit!

[Data]

It's wear. Some materials wear faster than others. Your skin oils don't really react with the polymers in any meaningful way, but they do lubricate the contact with your fingers so, in that sense, oily hands might help to reduce wear-related shine. But mostly it's just friction. Your fingertips effectively polish the caps. The skin on your fingers grows back. The plastic surface on your caps doesn't.

I guess if you have really, excessively oily hands that could add to the appearance of shine on your caps. So clean your damn keyboard.

[katushkin]

Shiny Nuclear DSA is the way it was meant to be.

[Bevo]

Show Image

I can tell that you're a camper. Never using W to move forward.

[Oobly]

Show Image

I can tell that you're a camper. Never using W to move forward.

Or maybe he doesn't play games at work...

It is an interesting wear pattern, though. I notice the "E" is not worn as much as "D" and even "F"... Which doesn't match English character usage, so what language does JD type in?

Could of course be more related to finger resting positions, but keeping your fingers on the home row is not ergonomic.. forces poor ulnar deviation.

[rowdy]

Shiny Nuclear DSA is the way it was meant to be.

SA??

[Oobly]

Shiny Nuclear DSA is the way it was meant to be.

SA??

Perhaps he has some tritium-infused DSA caps that actually shine... as in "glow".

Worn-in SA caps are where it's at. The true typing experience.

[katushkin]

Shiny Nuclear DSA is the way it was meant to be.

SA??

Yes. I always get confused.

[jdcarpe]

Show Image

I can tell that you're a camper. Never using W to move forward.

Or maybe he doesn't play games at work...

It is an interesting wear pattern, though. I notice the "E" is not worn as much as "D" and even "F"... Which doesn't match English character usage, so what language does JD type in?

Could of course be more related to finger resting positions, but keeping your fingers on the home row is not ergonomic.. forces poor ulnar deviation.

Got it in one. I'm not much of a gamer, anyway, but that is my work keyboard.

I type in English. :)

I rest the fingers of my left hand on ASDF. My right hand rests on my mouse. I often move my left hand over the caps, which causes them to shine even faster. I can tell that this is terrible for my hands, because I have recently begun to notice the symptoms of osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists, and my keyboarding just aggravates the symptoms.