Author Topic: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)  (Read 5910 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
[IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 04:24:07 »
GMK CYL Highlight

Welcome to the IC for GMK Flare/Hi! Viz Highlight (aka Hi Leicht / Handarleicht)!

Keycaps brighter than your future. This is a highlighter-themed keycap set — because nothing says 'I'm a serious typist' like a keyboard that looks like it was attacked by a pack of overly enthusiastic office interns.
Now your keyboard AND your notes can both scream for attention!

Like any good student, I have copied someone else's homework and done some changes so it looks like my own.


Kits
Base Kit

v4


- please scroll down to most recent post to see alternate mock-ups, such as the inclusion of magenta alpha keys -
Older versions:
More
v1

It took more effort to photoshop the kit render in GMK Flare than I thought, and honestly I would've saved more time mocking it up myself in Blender, so I could crank out some keyboard renders via KRK afterwards. Lesson learnt...
v2 (WIP):

v3


I have not done any other renders yet because I need some time for my eyes to recover... and I'm lazy. Use your imagination. There's also likely going to be a few changes which I'd like feedback upon, so I couldn't bother committing to full blown renders yet. This includes potentially changing the legends for the modifiers to text. I prefer to get colour samples first and have begun discussions with GMK.

Add-Ons Kit
- Render pending -

It would include windowed keys, relegendables, and cherry icons too (some similarity to GMK Black & Gold's Add-on kit.

I would also look to offer a NORDEUK kit in neon vomit too.


Topic Sentence

I've always wanted to do a fluorescent keycap set, and after seeing GMK Hi! Viz, I finally realised it was possible, so wanted to do it in different fluorescent colour. 
However I was struck with indecisiveness... I couldn't pick between pink, orange and green.... Like many others, I agonised over my favorite highlighter colour for ages.



Then I thought, why just pick one colour?
And... how can we make other people's eyes hurt harder?

So I was inspired by one of the most eccentric and controversial keycap sets ever that I love to hate... GMK Handarbeit (based on the G81-3000HBD OG Handarbeit).
As someone once commented in the original interest check: "Extremely repulsive set, yet I cant take my eyes off it."
I wish to emulate that energy here. How do I make people wish they were colourblind? How do I replicate that RGB-lit keyboard energy without RGB?
How can I justify wearing sunglasses indoors yet still look like a douchebag?


Colours:



These are the initial reference colours, but it's subject to change to achieve higher fluorescence if necessary and if there other better suggestions. There are some good RAL alternatives I'm considering.

Arguments

Note, I did take some liberties with copying the Handarbeit pattern so forgive me that it's not an authentic adaptation, but here's my justifications:
- Orange serves as the primary alpha colours instead of red, because orange is a more common highlighter colour, and the red makes more sense as accents.
- I've added an additional Red Esc key to mirror the F13, because it looks better. I'm considering scrapping the orange Esc key but I've kept it in for now.
- I did not include purple as I couldn't find a good fluorescent reference. I feel that purple simply can't match the vividness of the magenta/pink which are much more common highlighter colours too.
- I made the R1 "-_" & "=+" keys on the number row the same colour as F5-F8 instead so that layouts without the F-row can also have access to additional colour too.


Rebuttals

There's some design considerations I would like feedback on:
- I'm heavily considering if I should make the modifiers to text-only or icon+text?
- If the modifiers are text, I will add "Rub Out" as a legend to Add-on kit... the question is, would it be better in the OG Caps lock position, or in the R4/R3 Backspace where it makes more sense?
- Should I change the R1 Red 'Esc' key text to 'Hi!' or 'Licht' so it serves as a novelty key in the base kit, and can be used in place of F13 instead on boards.
- I'm considering if I should replace the OS key legend (currently 'Super') to something a little bit more interesting, such as "High"/"Hi" and "Light" (alternative idea includes "Hyper").
- I'm considering adding an additional R4 1.5u bottom row modifier in Red, perhaps with "Leicht" as the text
- Take a leaf from Handarbeit R2's artisan and using the stylised 'H' from the original keyboard as novelty key legend for the add-on kit? I would probably use fluorescent legends as well for more assault on the eyes. Such as Blue on Orange, Green on Red, Orange on Green and Yellow on Pink.


Deskmat
Exercise Book

I haven't yet gone around to illustrating it yet, so I've copy pasted an Adobe Stock image as a placeholder instead, but you get the idea.
I've always wanted to do a simple deskmat design that is the classic lined exercise book with red margin, and felt it would be the perfect backdrop to this set.
Fun fact: My original concept for this set was called 'Highlighter' (consider it a highlighter version of GMK Redacted), however it did not seem feasible to achieve the effect with double-shot/UV-print, and I wasn't ready to commit to dyesub unless I had prototypes made.

Pricing
Base Kit: TBA
Add-On Kit: TBA
NORDEUK Kit: TBA

GB Date
TBA


Vendors

US - TBA
Canada - TBA
EU - TBA
UK - TBA
Asia- TBA
OCE - TBA

 

Renders

F1-8X by Geon
Render pending
Nemui by Bachoo
Render pending
Petrichor by AKB
Render pending

Collaborations

Feel free to reach out to me through discord: bobatype
Current confirmed collabs:




Special Thanks
MVKB for GMK Hi Viz that exposed me to the feasibility of highly fluorescent colourway.
Kiririn for GMK Flare which pushed me to push this idea out prematurely (and whose IC and kit render I copied).
Markymark for pushing Kiririn to actually bring Flare into IC which brought this into IC.
Cocobrais (and Cherry) for the original GMK Handarbeit inspiration.

If you like the set, please consider filling out the IC Form and leave any feedback you may have!

Just give me feedback in public. I'm a sensitive soul, but it's the least I can do for subjecting your eyes to this IC.

Discord Server
I haven't create a channel for it yet.



Reviews

"Finally, a way to make your keyboard look like a rave flyer from 2003." - anon

"Just what my eyeballs needed — fluorescent neon regret in keycap form" - Lightsimon

"A sight for soothed eyes" - Confusious
« Last Edit: Fri, 07 February 2025, 06:52:02 by Bobatype »

Offline tactilesbad

  • Posts: 290
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 04:31:53 »

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 05:42:59 »
Yeah sorry, this IC is currently half as baked as I am right now.

I've been trying to cook up my own renders:


But not going to lie, I'm struggling with capturing the neon/fluorescence, without actual keycap samples on hand.

I'll need to do some imaginative post-processing i.e.

or ask someone to help render this if the IC goes anywhere.

I'm pretty sure changing the modifiers to text only or text+icon is the right call here, so it matches the 'highlighter' theme.

I also realise now there's a few errors with the initial kit mock-up, such as the Enter keys for ISO and 40's Enter should be yellow too, the R1 pipe key should be magenta pink too, R3 pipe key should be blue.

Anyways, I know this IC is lacking a lot of polish, but it's bit of a joke concept, so I'm just throwing it out here to test some waters. In another year, I would've post it on April Fools, but it was personally too amusing an idea to leave sitting.


Offline XiXora

  • Posts: 157
  • Location: UK
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 05:49:04 »
Fun set! If you're going to include alternate enter colour for ANSI, please don't leave us out in ISO.

Offline m202307

  • Posts: 15
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 06:38:15 »
Interested, but I'm way more likely to buy it if it runs with KKB instead of GMK.

I'd prefer if there were orange FJ keys available so you'd get consistent alphas; I'm not a fan of mixed colors on alphas.

Esc should probably be yellow; otherwise the yellow will be badly underrepresented on 60%-and-smaller boards.  Usually esc/enter/space match on smaller layouts.

Also personal preference but any set that has weird legends ("hi" instead of "esc", or that one set that has "godspeed" instead of "enter"—what?) turns a set into an instant hard pass unless they're available as novelties and the base kit has standard legends.

Offline DirtyGingy

  • Posts: 226
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 06:44:13 »
[SpongeBob my eyes gif]

Offline densus designs

  • * St. Jude Supporter
  • Posts: 126
  • Location: inside gater ron mouth
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 06:48:59 »
truly one of the gmk sets of all time

Offline rayy

  • Posts: 23
  • Location: USA
  • aesthetics enthusiast. serving. 🇺🇸
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 07:11:39 »
This is a need.  ;D
-the kid.

Offline keepoto

  • Posts: 219
  • HHKB top for TKL pls
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 07:23:19 »
Oh God, there were so many stars you could have used. What was the need to give these people to the fire, that the symbol of their passing might shine above Bethlehem?

Offline mf0176

  • Posts: 7
  • Location: [US-VA]
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 07:24:05 »
Is it April already?

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 07:36:00 »
Fun set! If you're going to include alternate enter colour for ANSI, please don't leave us out in ISO.
Appreciate the positivity :). Ah you mean the alternate red enter? Sure thing.
I'm still considering if it's achievable to fit purple within the set, and that's kind of where I'd be keen to fit it in.
And if so, I'm considering if making the legends Yellow on the Purple background (similar to GMK Nerve) would look good. I'll have to do some test renders.

Interested, but I'm way more likely to buy it if it runs with KKB instead of GMK.

I'd prefer if there were orange FJ keys available so you'd get consistent alphas; I'm not a fan of mixed colors on alphas.

Esc should probably be yellow; otherwise the yellow will be badly underrepresented on 60%-and-smaller boards.  Usually esc/enter/space match on smaller layouts.

Also personal preference but any set that has weird legends ("hi" instead of "esc", or that one set that has "godspeed" instead of "enter"—what?) turns a set into an instant hard pass unless they're available as novelties and the base kit has standard legends.

Mmm... given how recent GMK sets like Hippo and LoV were not successful during GB it might be a more feasible option to pivot to another manufacturer.
I also agree with preferring consistent color for all the alphas as an overall look if I had the option, thus I am happy to also offer orange F & J keys too. Question is, do I offer barred or scooped?

Happy to change the R2 Esc key for 40s to yellow instead. Thanks for the suggestion.

Appreciate the feedback regarding non-orthodox legends. It's probably less divisive (and honestly easier) to stick to standard legends for this set since the colours are already busy enough.

On a tangent, for OS legends, I just tend to get bored of 'Super' (it also doesn't fit as well on 1u like 'Sys'/'Code')). I also dislike how 'Code' starts with the same letter as the adjacent 'Ctrl'. I also dislike how the lower leg of the p in Super, and y in Sys breaks the visual bottom line. The only good alternative I can think of that isn't 'Win' is 'Meta' but it's a rather atypical modifier key legend.

If I do pursue alternative legends, I'll consider sliding them into the add-on kit if it's affordable.
Perhaps that's where I can slip in the fun 'Rub Out' alternate keys.

Oh God, there were so many stars you could have used. What was the need to give these people to the fire, that the symbol of their passing might shine above Bethlehem?
Demise is necessary to illuminate the birth of the savior.

Is it April already?
It's April everyday if you're a fool like me.

Offline warhopper

  • Posts: 20
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 08:18:26 »
This is so horrifying, but I I'm going to need a set to blind myself with.

Offline DivinaPapaya

  • Posts: 18
  • Location: EU
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 08:45:30 »
I like the idea of using this kind of colors, but id not choose the handarbeit distribution of them, id use dcs windbreaker's distribution of colors, or even gmk panels, just my two cents

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 09:55:13 »
This is so horrifying, but I I'm going to need a set to blind myself with.
100%. I feel like Victor Frankenstein releasing this monstrosity.
But it's for the greater good in the end.
Perhaps it'll make you touch-type more. I want users to consider if it's worth looking down at their keycaps to get punched in the eyes from the sensory overload.

I like the idea of using this kind of colors, but id not choose the handarbeit distribution of them, id use dcs windbreaker's distribution of colors, or even gmk panels, just my two cents
DCS windbreaker is a great keycap set, which I totally forgot has a similar spirit. Anyways I think copying the same distribution would make it a little too close in similarity. I also don't think I'd adopt GMK Panel's distribution either since the multi-coloured latin alphas has less 'logic' than Handarbeit's distribution (it's inspiration is much different).
But perhaps one way to emulate strengths of their pattern would be to offer some alternative colour R4 modifier options in the Add-on kit to add more chaos/visual variety.
I also like the set being a variant built off the Handarbeit heritage, i.e Handarbeige and Nachtarbeit
It's the first keycap set to ever hurt me, and I keen to pass on that pain.

Offline twitchytheinsideman

  • Posts: 432
  • Location: Berlin
  • UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU UWU
    • Twitchy Homepage
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 10:11:19 »
uhm

Offline IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES

  • Posts: 1916
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 10:21:50 »
I’ll unironically purchase this

The deskmat is great too

Offline TyPo.mk

  • Posts: 339
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 10:32:16 »
Why did you link a porn discord

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 10:37:07 »
Why did you link a porn discord
Yikes! Oh damn. my bad. I changed it quick. Thanks for the heads up. I replaced the previous discord link with triple x thinking it would be a dead link :-[, hence the strike-through. I didn't think it would lead to an active server.
« Last Edit: Tue, 04 February 2025, 10:43:41 by Bobatype »

Offline _IanOfEarth

  • Posts: 60
  • Location: Earth (Cupertino, CA, US)
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 11:16:58 »
Amazing kitting, thank you for full pg up/dn support and especially for 1.5u supers!

Offline Puddsy

  • nice
  • * Elated Elder
  • Posts: 12279
  • Location: RSTLN E
  • "Do you shovel to survive, or survive to shovel?"
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 12:11:38 »
Disgusting. I'll take eight.
QFR | MJ2 TKL | "Bulgogiboard" (Keycon 104) | ctrl.alt x GON 60% | TGR Alice | Mira SE #29 | Mira SE #34 | Revo One | z | Keycult No. 1 | First CW87 prototype | Mech27v1 | Camp C225 | Duck Orion V1 | LZ CLS sxh | Geon Frog TKL | Hiney TKL One | Geon Glare TKL



"Everything is worse, but in a barely perceptible and indefinable way" -dollartacos, after I came back from a break | "Is Linkshine our Nixon?" -NAV | "Puddsy is the Puddsy of keebs" -ns90

Offline Kokaloo

  • Posts: 1072
  • Location: Las Vegas
  • 🤘(• ω •)🤙
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 12:20:10 »
aight yeah **** it I'm in
Def icon or text only for mods either one is better than texticon

Offline Kiririn

  • Posts: 74
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 13:09:21 »
I hold no responsibility in making Boba create this assault on your eyes. Though even I find this to be hilarious.

Offline Kaisar

  • Posts: 23
  • Location: Denmark
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 13:25:48 »
Interesting and creative project. Will totally be interested if an international kit is added!

Offline SwitchKeys

  • Posts: 318
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
    • SwitchKeys
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 14:45:13 »
Actually unreal set. Please stick with GMK.

Deskmats might be a bit tricky to print..

Offline mvkb

  • Posts: 191
  • Location: Belgium
  • Designer
    • MVKB
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 15:02:19 »
Just as a heads up, I have a very similar deskmat planned for my set Eraser (working on getting order amounts from vendors right now, will be in-stock). https://mvkb.com/eraser/#deskmat

Offline DivinaPapaya

  • Posts: 18
  • Location: EU
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 15:15:25 »
Amazing!

Offline AMZ

  • Posts: 126
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #26 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 15:16:28 »
Interested, In for sure!

Offline dariannn

  • Posts: 9
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 16:04:47 »
need

Offline Guuuf

  • Posts: 7
  • Location: Essen
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 16:13:19 »
I'm in, that's for sure! However, I would need NorDe. :)

And because it's of interest, I would prefer icon+text and only secondly text-only modifiers. 
Beyond that, I first have to figure out what else I have to say.

Just to say: Awesome ****!
Born 330 ppm, anonymer Schokoladiker, keyboard enthusiast, age150ramnv8nfx2w740jcqrcewzr88d5xymvqv9asjeamvv0pnad3xqyg8qpt

Offline m202307

  • Posts: 15
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #29 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 17:24:14 »
On a tangent, for OS legends, I just tend to get bored of 'Super' (it also doesn't fit as well on 1u like 'Sys'/'Code')). I also dislike how 'Code' starts with the same letter as the adjacent 'Ctrl'. I also dislike how the lower leg of the p in Super, and y in Sys breaks the visual bottom line. The only good alternative I can think of that isn't 'Win' is 'Meta' but it's a rather atypical modifier key legend.

I'm fully aware of the irony that I'm the guy who doesn't like nonstandard legends, but on a Yuzu set where I have the mods labelled as what I actually use them for I have the usually-super key labelled as "OS" (or actually "os" since it's an all-lowercase design).

Homing-keys-wise, I preferred barred to scooped, but it isn't a dealbreaker.

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #30 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 19:14:13 »
aight yeah **** it I'm in
Def icon or text only for mods either one is better than texticon
My instincts are leaning towards text only, but I need to do some renders to see how I feel.

I'm in, that's for sure! However, I would need NorDe. :)

And because it's of interest, I would prefer icon+text and only secondly text-only modifiers. 
Beyond that, I first have to figure out what else I have to say.

Just to say: Awesome ****!
Thanks, will endeavour to mock up a NorDe kit too.

Just as a heads up, I have a very similar deskmat planned for my set Eraser (working on getting order amounts from vendors right now, will be in-stock). https://mvkb.com/eraser/#deskmat
Oh sorry I didn't realise the similarity. I guess my intended execution for the deskmat is a little different due to the orientation, with the illusion of the binder fold in the middle.  So it's a little awkward in terms of similarity, but they're not the same either.  Anyways this project is still really early in development, and I'm also totally cool with other's preferring your version of a deskmat designed for Eraser (very creative set!), which will have the far superior option of being in-stock.

Interesting and creative project. Will totally be interested if an international kit is added!
Thanks. Yeah seems like there's good feedback to propose a NORDEUK kit for this project.

Disgusting. I'll take eight.
:') that's the response I love

Amazing kitting, thank you for full pg up/dn support and especially for 1.5u supers!
Interested, In for sure!
Cheers  :thumb:

Actually unreal set. Please stick with GMK.

Deskmats might be a bit tricky to print..
Will work it out, happy to get prototypes made to make sure it doesn't look too janky.

I hold no responsibility in making Boba create this assault on your eyes. Though even I find this to be hilarious.
I'm just a copycat criminal.

need
Amazing!
<3

On a tangent, for OS legends, I just tend to get bored of 'Super' (it also doesn't fit as well on 1u like 'Sys'/'Code')). I also dislike how 'Code' starts with the same letter as the adjacent 'Ctrl'. I also dislike how the lower leg of the p in Super, and y in Sys breaks the visual bottom line. The only good alternative I can think of that isn't 'Win' is 'Meta' but it's a rather atypical modifier key legend.
I'm fully aware of the irony that I'm the guy who doesn't like nonstandard legends, but on a Yuzu set where I have the mods labelled as what I actually use them for I have the usually-super key labelled as "OS" (or actually "os" since it's an all-lowercase design).

Homing-keys-wise, I preferred barred to scooped, but it isn't a dealbreaker.
I actually quite like 'os' in the context of an all-lowercase modifier legends. It's minimalist. Fits 1u well. If the legends are all-uppercase, I actually like SYS. It's just in the context of mix case legends, I just wish there was more alternatives than Super/System/Code for the reasons I explained. For this set, I'm currently considering trying to bring back 'Meta' as the OS key legend, because it's less common, yet is technically still 'standard' from my understanding.

Yeah I lean towards barred. I think the last poll here, however many years ago, showed it was an even split.

Offline Its_Skullhead

  • Posts: 2
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #31 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 20:09:06 »
Hi, I Created a GH account just because of this set. Hoping to see an actual IC form for this come soon because this is such a sick keycap set. I love your idea of using Handarbeit’s “layout” of colors for this set as an homage to where keyboards have come from. However, I was thinking as far as distribution of colors GMK Panels kinda does it a bit better. I just think there may be a tad too much orange. Would it be possible to experiment with a splash of one of the other highlighter colors on the left side of the alphas or even just W,A,S,D? I think it could help not look so lopsided in terms of color distribution. Regardless if this keyset comes to life I’m still gonna buy it. This is fantastic.

Offline Thompywhompy

  • Posts: 2
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #32 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 21:26:53 »
Would love to see a R5 bottom row

Offline LMNPI

  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Japan
  • QAZ is love.
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #33 on: Tue, 04 February 2025, 21:45:43 »
Such a fun set. I'm very interested.

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #34 on: Wed, 05 February 2025, 05:56:30 »
v3 of base kit:


Points of discussion:

>> Reverting from Text+Icon Modifiers to Text only legends or Icon legends. After looking at some renders, icon+text looks a bit 'busy' in my personal opinion. Simply, the more legends there are on the keycap, the less total surface area on the top surface of the keycap is highlighter colour. Let's maximise photon output.

> Note that I don't plan to change the legends to highlighter colours either. I think going opaque black works with the concept of 'highlighting' text. There's actual logic in this chaos. I did consider going metallic like Hi! Viz, or fluorescent like DCS Windbreaker, however the main emphasis here is the base colour, not the legends.

BASE KIT Considerations
- Removed alternate red enters for now, may re-include them depending on how bulky the base kit looks...
- Removed 6u cvx spacebar, and moved to add-on kit instead
- Made all R4 Super keys in red to stop the whole set looking too orange. Although they're not the same colour as the alphas or other modifiers, I think them being red still retains the original spirit of Handarbeit I feel (as they were actually red). If you go WKL, this change won't make a difference, and the keyboard blocker already helps break the colours up more.
- I'm strongly considering culling the additional R3 Numpad '5', and making it scooped or dimple - it feels a bit redundant to have 2 '5's when many here don't use a numpad in the first place.

ADD-ON KIT Considerations
> R1 Cherry Keys  x 2 - black on red ; red on green
> Windowed keys x 4 - R1 Scroll, R1 Num, R3 Caps Lock (stepped), R3 Caps Lock (non-stepped)
> R3 F & J in orange for uniform alpha look option, although I would rather force one homing style in base kit, and have the orange in base too
> Spacebars: 3u cvx x 2, 6u cvx, 1u cvx - all in yellow
> R1 Relegendables? - need to figure out how many to include... open to suggestions


I also considered exploring adding a bit more visual variety to the alphas since people also like the vibe of GMK Panels and DCS Windbreaker, so here's some experimental mock-ups.

A) left side alphas in Magenta:


B) Variant of A with R1 non-numeric keys ["`~", "-_" and "=+"] in blue to also match the other double legend punctuation alpha keys


C) Variant of B with yellow homing alphas


D) How it looks with v1/v3 alphas, however R1 non-numeric keys in blue to also match the other double legend punctuation alpha keys


E) WASD in Magenta, with R1 non-numeric keys in blue


I'm currently pretty happy with how the most recent base kit looks, but I can see the appeal with having another block of colours in the alpha for more variety.

Which leads to v4 base kit beta:

- It has elements of mock-up E included in the base kit (see bottom right) with Magenta WASD, and blue num-row non-numeric keys. The inclusion of 8 more alphas in total. Also to offer both orange and yellow F and J in the base kit, I'm forcing one type of homing key for the alphas (scooped as a homage to the original Handarbeit). I've also scrapped the additional numpad 5.
- I'm currently considering whether or not to just include the other 10 magenta alpha kit options into base, or keeping them separate into the add-on kit? I'm leaning to the former option if a lot of people really like the magenta alphas, which I'm starting to get jiggy wit'.
« Last Edit: Wed, 05 February 2025, 06:14:42 by Bobatype »

Offline m202307

  • Posts: 15
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #35 on: Wed, 05 February 2025, 06:17:54 »
I prefer Variant B, myself; it looks the most balanced.  Still hoping for a yellow R1 Esc to balance out enter and spacebar.  Also this is crying out for a Stüssy S novelty. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_S)

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #36 on: Wed, 05 February 2025, 06:30:29 »
I prefer Variant B, myself; it looks the most balanced.  Still hoping for a yellow R1 Esc to balance out enter and spacebar.  Also this is crying out for a Stüssy S novelty. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_S)

Yeah B is looking good.
A yellow R1 Esc isn't a bad idea. In layouts with an F-Row, I like that the orange/red Esc keeps each cluster of keys their own unique colour block. But I can see how yellow R1 Esc would look more appealing in 65%/60% layouts.

Oh yeah I can definitely include a cool S novelty. Literally last week I was joking about having a keyboard case design where the WKL blockers had the cool S engraved there :D
My original highlighter keycap set concept (which will likely be PBT) was going to include it, and I was thinking of an addiotional exercise book deskmat with some text, and doodles like the cool S on it too.

Offline DivinaPapaya

  • Posts: 18
  • Location: EU
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #37 on: Wed, 05 February 2025, 09:58:36 »
I understand why you chose black legends, but have you at least tried changing the legends to other's base color? and go full eschizo with colors, could look very good although it would drift a bit from the original spirit of the set

Offline AMZ

  • Posts: 126
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #38 on: Wed, 05 February 2025, 13:36:18 »
B Variant or C Variant
« Last Edit: Wed, 05 February 2025, 13:48:50 by AMZ »

Offline Ammonite

  • Posts: 9
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #39 on: Fri, 07 February 2025, 01:00:55 »
It's hideous, my poor eyes! Obviously I have to have it. I own GMK's Hi-Vis and they did a really good job with the colour, so it seems they're well-equipped to take on some other neon colours! Please, though, for the love of all that is holy, include 40s kitting as an extra. There are thousands of us (15,000 in the main discord server!) and we need keycaps too.

Love the deskman design too, instant yes from me.

Offline Bobatype

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 435
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
    • Discord ID: BobaSweatandTears#1659
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #40 on: Fri, 07 February 2025, 06:42:31 »
I understand why you chose black legends, but have you at least tried changing the legends to other's base color? and go full eschizo with colors, could look very good although it would drift a bit from the original spirit of the set
I agree it would look good and hurt eyes more. However I think going full rave party in  the base kit is perhaps an idea for another day.
Perhaps I could do it for some keys in the Add-ons kit, such as the Enter keys and novelty key, but that's still a WIP.

It's hideous, my poor eyes! Obviously I have to have it. I own GMK's Hi-Vis and they did a really good job with the colour, so it seems they're well-equipped to take on some other neon colours! Please, though, for the love of all that is holy, include 40s kitting as an extra. There are thousands of us (15,000 in the main discord server!) and we need keycaps too.

Love the deskman design too, instant yes from me.
Thanks for the kind words.
Regarding having a separate 40s kit, it'll depend on vendor support. They'll have to be willing to take on extra kits to meet MOQ (and/or bear the costs of refunds if they decide to ditch the kit, which is a terrible experience for everyone). I'll be honest, in the current market, this does not seem likely which is why there is 4 keys for 40s layout compatibility baked into the base.


Base kit v4

- All double punctuation legend keys are now blue for better consistency, plus it overall looks better with a bit more blue (I also forgot about the R4 >< key being blue too)
- Right arrow is blue as well, as I much prefer the look of having 4 separate colours in that cluster
- R1 Yellow Esc also added as an option
- I personally prefer the Latin alphas being primarily orange, but I understand the appeal of the extra colour in the alphas so I've included those extra alpha keys (in Fuchsia pink) into the base kit for now.

Example here .
However until I get samples, I'm a bit wary of how much differentiation there is between the Magenta pink (tab/shift/caps lock modifiers) and the Fuchsia pink alphas (and how bright they can crank this shade up).

I also have bought some more stationery to provide a more solid sense of direction with the colours, however I will be working with GMK closely (discussion has commenced) on getting some samples made to try and maximise the neon, and hopefully tweak renders to match them. So note that not all the codes are displayed here are yet definitive (there are also other codes that I won't disclose for now):
More





Thanks again for all the love :)
« Last Edit: Fri, 07 February 2025, 09:07:22 by Bobatype »

Offline norb

  • Posts: 292
  • Location: ger
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #41 on: Fri, 07 February 2025, 08:56:19 »
i also like my eyes like my steak. burnt.
as an owner of windbreaker and hi-viz, of course i would have to get one of these if it ever comes to reality :thumb:

Offline FoxandFoundry

  • Posts: 16
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #42 on: Fri, 07 February 2025, 21:01:02 »
I would say variant B looks best. DCS Windbreaker does a good job at this so definitely use that as inspiration. (Offer a purple variant \ key) Also, is there any way to make it so that all the legends aren't black or would that be cost prohibitive? Also, would it be possible to do text modifiers? Similar to Windbreaker, I think they would look really good here.

Edit: It looks like a lot of my questions were asked previously.
« Last Edit: Fri, 07 February 2025, 21:34:47 by FoxandFoundry »

Offline blacksimon

  • Posts: 197
  • illuminati.works
    • illuminati.works
Re: [IC] GMK CYL Highlight (Handarleicht?)
« Reply #43 on: Sat, 08 February 2025, 10:04:10 »
where render?