[IC] full PBT (spacebar included), gray or beige set

[SpAmRaY]

My problem is that I am slowly being assimilated by the master topre race and I have just too many MX key caps but not many MX boards. The beige looked really interesting (and PBT space bars(!)) but do I want another set of key caps. Why you do this to me?!

Hopefully soonish you will be able to use those MX keys on your topre

[Belfong]

I am waiting for that day.. you heard us, Matt3o?

[Matt3o]

I am waiting for that day.. you heard us, Matt3o?

March 6 I should have the final prototype.

[jacobolus]

Symbols all still need a lot of work, and there are no arrows/numpad (and F1–F12 are at least slightly too big), but how’s this for a start?

[Matt3o]

I don't like the Q and R of that font, but thanks for taking the time to set up a mockup. So far Gotham is our best bet (with some work)

[ideus]

Symbols all still need a lot of work, and there are no arrows/numpad (and F1–F12 are at least slightly too big), but how’s this for a start?

Show Image

I want it. It looks cool, and it would last forever...

[jacobolus]

I don't like the Q and R of that font

Well, not everyone has good taste.

[jacobolus]

Here’s Gotham Rounded (letters are book weight + slight fattening). Symbols still need a lot of work.

[Matt3o]

very nice. if we can't find a better font I'd go with gotham.

Also I'd like to try lowercase mods and small icons for backspace/tab/enter/etc...

[jacobolus]

Lowercase words + roman numeral F keys. Draw your own little arrows, &c.

[jacobolus]

By the way, note that the Gotham Rounded typeface costs $179. I don’t mind making a mockup here using a copy I snagged from a buddy, but anyone putting this sort of thing into production should really toss H&FJ (the font foundry) their due.

[Matt3o]

I already paid for it long ago.

[jacobolus]

Okay, some improvements to the symbols:



I still think all caps works better for the full words though.

[Matt3o]

I'd try capitalized too, but I agree maybe all caps is just better

[yicaoyimu]

I find lower case mod + normal F row legend more appealing to me.

[ideus]

All caps looks cool and its different to the standard cherry for example.

[1pq]

Wow this looks awesome! How soon do you expect to start it?

[katushkin]

I love the roman numerals.

If this comes with an ISO set for a good price, I'm in.

[jacobolus]

I love the roman numerals. If this comes with an ISO set for a good price, I'm in.

Note, I’m just tossing out ideas with these designs. Matt is the one running the show here, and so the final product is probably going to look like whatever his preferences are. :-)

[Vibex]

Wow really nice. When you say it will support other layouts like colemak, does that mean you will sell deepdish T and N keys and standard *insert the home row keys on QWERTY* in a standard key seperatly?

[jacobolus]

Okay, here’s a design sketch for a full board:



Edit: or perhaps roman numerals could be a separate set:

[wuqe]

Same for Dvorak; maybe all these alternative layout home keys can be part of a set so numbers aren't such a problem. (Tentative name: "Qwerty isn't good enough for you, eh?")

[Vibex]

Same for Dvorak; maybe all these alternative layout home keys can be part of a set so numbers aren't such a problem. (Tentative name: "Qwerty isn't good enough for you, eh?")

I like that name. 

[katushkin]

Roman numerals as a seperate set. That, I can get behind.

[ideus]

Same for Dvorak; maybe all these alternative layout home keys can be part of a set so numbers aren't such a problem. (Tentative name: "Qwerty isn't good enough for you, eh?")

I like that name. 

How many keys required to be different for Dvorak?

[Melvang]

26 or 27 ish.  It is actually surprising

[wuqe]

But with DSA profile, only two: the deep dish ones. Since all the rows are the same, you can shuffle them between rows without a problem.

[Melvang]

But with DSA profile, only two: the deep dish ones. Since all the rows are the same, you can shuffle them between rows without a problem.

True, I was thinking sculpted profile instead of flat profile.

[jacobolus]

Is there a reason people like the deep dish F/J/whatever instead of the little raised dots? [I personally prefer the dots.]

[ideus]

Is there a reason people like the deep dish F/J/whatever instead of the little raised dots? [I personally prefer the dots.]

Deep dish here, more comfortable.

[CommonCurt]

Is there a reason people like the deep dish F/J/whatever instead of the little raised dots? [I personally prefer the dots.]

I'm fine with either or.

[ideus]

dots or deep dish will depend on the molds available.

[Matt3o]

yes, there will be a kit with various homing keys.

I don't think we will have roman numbers, sublimated pbt doesn't come cheap, so we have to concentrate on feed well done kits

[jacobolus]

I don't think we will have roman numbers, sublimated pbt doesn't come cheap, so we have to concentrate on feed well done kits

What are the MOQs and prices per cap at MOQ? Seems like all you need for any particular add-on kit is enough people interested, and as long as they get the main kit as well, it shouldn’t hurt anything, no? (Except their wallets.) Anyway, I’m not particularly attached to any of this. I’m just playing around. [And personally, I mostly need some Alps caps, so might not get any of these sets at all. I’m happy to spend a bit more time on design fiddling though, as I think the same designs will be reusable later.]

[FineTalent]

First post on the forum; saw what jacobolus created and was motivated to design a layout myself (new to this so hope it was okay to use yours as a template).
The rational behind the layout was to design a modern approach to the Model M layout. The symbols are flush left (asymmetric look), all uppercase and adjusted/spaced proportionally.

Layout with the Gotham Rounded Medium font


This second layout is with the Helvetica 55 Roman font -- looked most similar to the Model M keyboard


I will continue creating additional edits with the layout if needed.

[Matt3o]

Please review carefully the intl kit and let me know if you spot errors. Also let me know if some of the legends are not needed (<>| for example, maybe <> could be used).



This should support: DE, ES, FR, IT, NO, SW-FI, UK
I could also add: BE, DK, PT

Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thanks!

PS: please note legends will be most likely centered.

[SpAmRaY]

Seeing some of black on gray DSA caps from my crap bag they look very nice.

[Matt3o]

Seeing some of black on gray DSA caps from my crap bag they look very nice.

PICS!

[SpAmRaY]

Seeing some of black on gray DSA caps from my crap bag they look very nice.

PICS!

Somewhere in that 

[Matt3o]

DOH!

[jdeblese]

Seeing some of black on gray DSA caps from my crap bag they look very nice.

Black on dark grey? If you do find them somewhere in that jungle of caps, pics would be very welcome indeed. Lack of contrast is one of the arguments against Charcoal, so it would be good to see the actual readability.

[SpAmRaY]

Seeing some of black on gray DSA caps from my crap bag they look very nice.

Black on dark grey? If you do find them somewhere in that jungle of caps, pics would be very welcome indeed. Lack of contrast is one of the arguments against Charcoal, so it would be good to see the actual readability.

No it would be more like the pure grey theme sorry.

[Air tree]

Oh my god. This is amazing. I voted for pure grey just because I love wyse. This is going to look great on a poker 2. <3 you Matt3o

[ideus]

Until we see actual pictures, the problem with charcoal may be its lack of contrast.

[Matt3o]

Until we see actual pictures, the problem with charcoal may be its lack of contrast.

contrast is low but still readable.

A special kit could include some nerdy symbols

[ideus]

Awesome, can we suggest some other symbols?

[Matt3o]

Awesome, can we suggest some other symbols?

you must

[naasfu]

Here’s Gotham Rounded (letters are book weight + slight fattening). Symbols still need a lot of work.

Show Image

This is looking really good!  The Gotham Rounded font looks great, and I'd be really happy with either gray or charcoal.

Personally, I think all caps looks the best, but in general I do not care for Roman numerals on caps.  They feel out of place on a keyboard and better suited for Diablo or a grandfather clock.  :p

[ideus]

Here’s Gotham Rounded (letters are book weight + slight fattening). Symbols still need a lot of work.

Show Image

This is looking really good!  The Gotham Rounded font looks great, and I'd be really happy with either gray or charcoal.

Personally, I think all caps looks the best, but in general I do not care for Roman numerals on caps.  They feel out of place on a keyboard and better suited for Diablo or a grandfather clock.  :p

What would be the arrows profile?

[jacobolus]

First post on the forum; saw what jacobolus created and was motivated to design a layout myself (new to this so hope it was okay to use yours as a template).

Sure, no problem!

The rational behind the layout was to design a modern approach to the Model M layout. The symbols are flush left (asymmetric look), all uppercase and adjusted/spaced proportionally.

Do note that this mockup shows the dimensions for DSA keycaps. If you’re looking for something like the Model M, you probably want a profile like DCS or similar, which has a different shaped cap top.