Author Topic: The Keycap Atelier  (Read 4491 times)

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Offline merutz

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The Keycap Atelier
« on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 16:15:11 »
Hey guys!

After waiting to exasperation for exactly 55 days for my first artisan to get to me (ETF's Deep Star Shell and yeah.. the post office here is terrible) I decided since this period also coincided with my sabbatical to give keycap sculpting a try.
I got the molding and the casting part all figured out, although I haven't gone full rogue regarding the acquisition of the infamous pressure pot yet, but there's still time.
Only thing left for me to do is come up with some original designs, so here we are. I for one, without one bit of false modesty am not really satisfied with them. Still looking for design ideas and sculpting techniques. I have just switched to FIMO(can't really get CX5 here without paying around 60 bucks for the shipping) and am a bit more satisfied with the results.
I welcome any criticism!
Well.. without further ado:

134501-0
134503-1


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Offline need

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 16:17:46 »
nice

Offline scenic

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 16:32:22 »
Awesome! I really like the animal one with the tongue sticking out. It's super cute, I'd totally pick one up.  :D

Offline suicidal_orange

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 17:03:33 »
Watch out for nearby caps - these look like they will hit them when pressed.

That said they're a great start, my favourite is the... noseless cyclops?  I will never understand how arty people come up with such random ideas :))
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Offline biocalves

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 17:06:35 »
I think other makers will probably warn you about those large thin ears when you decide to actually mold and cast so you may want to think about that.

You have some pretty good detail, and more practice will only make you better (or so I'm told)

Offline iLLucionist

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 15 April 2016, 17:13:22 »
Looks nice!
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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 05:40:14 »
Thank you guys! I'll just get back to the drawing board.

I'll also have to figure out how to get the FIMO on these ABS caps to harden without melting the caps. I live dangerously  :p


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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 08:39:22 »
New design guys! I revamped the pirate since he was way too bulky and turned him into a merchant from the Orient  :p

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEQzaRytVR5/


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Offline iLLucionist

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 09:08:55 »
New design guys! I revamped the pirate since he was way too bulky and turned him into a merchant from the Orient  :p

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEQzaRytVR5/

Looks really cool! It's a larger than a cap right? Doesn't it scrape / hit other adjacent keys?
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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 09:37:06 »
Looks really cool! It's a larger than a cap right? Doesn't it scrape / hit other adjacent keys?

Only the hat, but that would only be a problem if someone were to place it in the alpha section.
As long as it's on the top row there wouldn't be any problem with any of the keys on the side, since I trimmed his mustache  :))


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Offline iLLucionist

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 13:17:48 »
Looks really cool! It's a larger than a cap right? Doesn't it scrape / hit other adjacent keys?

Only the hat, but that would only be a problem if someone were to place it in the alpha section.
As long as it's on the top row there wouldn't be any problem with any of the keys on the side, since I trimmed his mustache  :))

Really nice man! How you make 'em? Clay and bake? 3d print?
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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 16:40:12 »
Really nice man! How you make 'em? Clay and bake? 3d print?

They're just clay at the moment since I'm somewhat afraid to bake the ABS caps I sculpted over.

I'm still trying to make interesting designs until I manage to get a pressure pot.
All searches so far in my native language just basically lead me to pressure cookers  :rolleyes:
I've also checked related search results such as pressure cooker bombs, so I might have also made it on the terrorist watch-list  :))


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Offline iLLucionist

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 16:42:52 »
Really nice man! How you make 'em? Clay and bake? 3d print?

They're just clay at the moment since I'm somewhat afraid to bake the ABS caps I sculpted over.

I'm still trying to make interesting designs until I manage to get a pressure pot.
All searches so far in my native language just basically lead me to pressure cookers  :rolleyes:
I've also checked related search results such as pressure cooker bombs, so I might have also made it on the terrorist watch-list  :))

How would that work... a pressure cooker? You put they clay on top of an ABS cap and then... you cook the sh*t out of the cap until it the clay is hard?
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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 04 May 2016, 05:46:30 »
I'm not dead guys.  :-X

Just got to work on a new design and although it's a w.i.p. I think I'm getting better at sculpting.

136133-0
136135-1

And the doggie turned into a night-vision google wearing mole  :p

136137-2

I'm still far from committing to casting one of these design but any feedback is appreciated.


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Offline Kenda

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 04 May 2016, 20:54:02 »
I like the top one, not sure about the mole as it not that clear. Hope to see more updates


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Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 05 May 2016, 03:11:37 »
136228-0
136230-1
136232-2

I think I'd run into problems trying to cast this little fella but I like him  ;D


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Offline Kenda

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #16 on: Thu, 05 May 2016, 23:03:52 »
It's really nice design but then that open mouth might cause trouble if you cast him

Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 06 May 2016, 05:58:04 »
Here piggy piggy!

136355-0


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Offline tigersharkdude

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 06 May 2016, 06:12:10 »
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I really like the 'playful' feel of your sculpts

Offline merutz

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Re: The Keycap Atelier
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 06 May 2016, 18:40:26 »
subbed

I really like the 'playful' feel of your sculpts

Thanks man! I'm still trying to get the perfect first design to cast.
I'm not quite so satisfied with what I've done until now, especially when I see guys like Punks coming out of 'retirement'  ;D


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