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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Eszett on Sun, 26 September 2021, 04:59:30

Title: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Eszett on Sun, 26 September 2021, 04:59:30: I've heard about DIY dye sublimation and that there is a service where you send your custom legends as *.EPS (or similar) file in and they print it on sublimation paper. However the source on Etsy that is mentioned doesn't ship to my home in Europe. Is there any other source that offers this service?
https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/549370705/
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Francisco on Sun, 26 September 2021, 11:09:32: WASD print keycaps to your design and they ship to Europe.
You can download their template and complete your design in inkscape.
I got a set from them (Korean mono keycaps) and the result was brilliant.
Of course, the result will only be as good as your design.
Link: wasdkeyboards com
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Eszett on Sun, 26 September 2021, 11:37:15: I'll keep that in mind but the solution is rather expensive and inflexible. With the DIY method it's not only cheaper but I can also fix things. E.g. if I do a mistake I can repeat the process for each keycap until it's perfect. If I order a whole package as from WASD I can't fix any minor flaw or inconsistency. The whole money willl be wasted if I don't deliver a flawlessly designed template. And I most probably will not deliver a flawlessly designed template, I usually need 2 or 3 trials & rework until satisfaction.
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Francisco on Sun, 26 September 2021, 12:40:52: I think WASD's price is really cheap for what you get. I paid $60+shipping for 104 caps printed exactly as I designed.
I took my time with the design and went through many iterations before finally ordering a set to be printed.
I got it right first time by taking my time and not rushing things.
Here's a pic of my absolutely beautiful Korean keycaps that I use everyday.
Nobody sells a set like these - they are unique.

(https://i.imgur.com/RqBCdy4.jpg)
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Eszett on Sun, 26 September 2021, 13:35:52: Francisco does a 2 color legend print, as you have (black and blue), cost extra?
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Francisco on Sun, 26 September 2021, 16:22:38: Quote from: Eszett on Sun, 26 September 2021, 13:35:52
Francisco does a 2 color legend print, as you have (black and blue), cost extra?

No extra cost - You can have caps printed in as many colours as you want - whatever is in your design and it's all the same price.
I also used two different ABS plastic colours for the alphas and mods - white and beige. Again, no extra charge.
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Eszett on Mon, 27 September 2021, 06:27:02: Sounds good. Now in Adobe Illustrator the template is a bit odd. The distance between two caps is not 19,05. How shall I assess that?
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Francisco on Thu, 30 September 2021, 09:36:22: Quote from: Eszett on Mon, 27 September 2021, 06:27:02
Sounds good. Now in Adobe Illustrator the template is a bit odd. The distance between two caps is not 19,05. How shall I assess that?

No need to worry about distances between caps on the template.
"Printing templates" only represents keycap positions for the actual printing process.
Title: Re: DIY dye sublimation on keycaps
Post by: Eszett on Thu, 30 September 2021, 10:20:39: Yes, meanwhile WASD answered me, and said the same. I have to align the legends relative to the center of each cap then. Abit cumbersome, but ok no problem.