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Offline jordansimone18

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Best backlit key caps
« on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 01:12:33 »
I am looking for keycaps for my Quickfire Rapid-I. I want to know which ones would be the best for my keyboard. Maybe even blank keycaps would look good if it just provides the underglow, and no light shining through. I am also not looking for black keycaps. I would like white or gray but I am open to suggestions. Any good recommendations?
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Offline Oobly

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 01:48:12 »
GMK Dolch. Cherry profile thick doubleshot caps with very nice legends and unbeatable quality. The latest Group Buy for them has recently closed, but you could ask if anyone wants to transfer their set: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58608.0

I wouldn't bother with "proper" backlit keycaps. They're all thin ABS rubbish except for the Deck set (horrible font) and the new PBT+POM Vortex set, but I'm not sure what the quality of that set will turn out like.

Background glow around nice thick high quality caps is very nice. Especially with white backlighting, IMHO. So look for a set that is high quality that appeals to you.

What keycap profile do you prefer (SA, DSA, DCS, Cherry, OEM, etc..)?
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 05:26:58 »
Welcome to Geekhack!

"Best" is subjective.

"backlit keycaps" is also misleading - usually that would refer to keycaps with transparent/translucent legends that light up when the backlight is on, in contradistinction to non-backlit keycaps  that, at best, would have a general weak glow from the LED (plus a certain amount of underglow).

I would agree that Dolch is one of the better sets, and one of the true classics.  Unfortunately that GB is closed :(

Other than that, keep an eye out for any other GB that Ivan runs through GMK - fantastic keycaps!
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Offline qwack

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 06:17:35 »
Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 01:48:12
Background glow around nice thick high quality caps is very nice. Especially with white backlighting, IMHO. So look for a set that is high quality that appeals to you.

This.



(from the Post your Poker thread)

If you don't want black, there were grey Vortex PBT caps on massdrop a few days ago, I don't know if they are still available. Otherwise, there are navy (blank & side-printed) & white (side-printed only) PBT sets from Leopold linked here : http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59780.0
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Offline jordansimone18

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 13:39:43 »
Quote from: Oobly on Tue, 19 August 2014, 01:48:12
What keycap profile do you prefer (SA, DSA, DCS, Cherry, OEM, etc..)?

I have no idea, I am a noob at this stuff.
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Offline jordansimone18

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 19 August 2014, 13:48:42 »
Also if you have seen a Rapid-I you can see very clearly in between the keycaps. Some of the ones you guys suggested are mushed together and I don't think I would be able to see the backlight very well.
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Offline Ceedog

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 17:17:27 »
Vortex will be releasing PBT double shot backlit keycaps soon, for $33. This is very important, since they will be the best quality backlit keycaps ever made, and they also have a great font at an unbeatable price.
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Offline Hyde

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 17:37:57 »
Maxkeyboard is also going to release their double shot ABS keycaps in September (or at least the rumor says so).

http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-blackbird-tenkeyless-tkl-cherry-mx-backlit-mechanical-keyboard.html

So this could be a good option too.  :thumb:
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Offline Puddsy

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 18:10:56 »
Quote from: Ceedog on Wed, 20 August 2014, 17:17:27
Vortex will be releasing PBT double shot backlit keycaps soon, for $33. This is very important, since they will be the best quality backlit keycaps ever made, and they also have a great font at an unbeatable price.

what vortex caps have you been using?

vortex's caps are fine if you're blind...
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Offline Ceedog

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Best backlit key caps
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 20 August 2014, 18:20:00 »
Have you seen the backlit caps? They don't use the horrid Poker font.
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Offline Oobly

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 22 August 2014, 05:07:56 »
Quote from: Ceedog on Wed, 20 August 2014, 18:20:00
Have you seen the backlit caps? They don't use the horrid Poker font.

From what I have seen / read they will have the Cherry-esque font of the new doubleshot PBT's, but using milky POM for the legends instead of PBT.

I also think they'll be the best "backlit" capable caps out there when released. But I still prefer better quality, non-backlit caps on a backlit board. The bleed-around is nice and nothing beats the feeling of typing on really high quality caps.

The only "backlit" caps I use nowadays are the Cherry Legend Replicas.
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 22 August 2014, 16:32:29 »
Quote from: jordansimone18 on Tue, 19 August 2014, 01:12:33
I am looking for keycaps for my Quickfire Rapid-I. I want to know which ones would be the best for my keyboard. Maybe even blank keycaps would look good if it just provides the underglow, and no light shining through. I am also not looking for black keycaps. I would like white or gray but I am open to suggestions. Any good recommendations?

2 recommendations

1) ask cgbuen or anyone for TG3 PBT doubleshots. I believe cgb still hasn't sold his. They are Deck quality without ugly font.
2) x-keys. You can get colored relegendables which give you a lot of leeway to control the appearance.
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Offline noisyturtle

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Re: Best backlit key caps
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 22 August 2014, 19:54:13 »
I actually like the colors Ducky backlit caps offer best, and I hate Vortex's font so it's an easy choice. :)

Also agree with just using high-quality solid caps for a nice underglow effect instead.
« Last Edit: Fri, 22 August 2014, 19:55:52 by noisyturtle »
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