[IC] Hitch Hiker DSA ABS - 6/02/2017 RENDERS, MASSDROP POLL

[Clemence]

MASSDROP POLL OPEN, VOTE NOW


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I really like The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I also like the cover of the omnibus edition that came out around the time of the movie, as such I think it only makes sense for me to make this kit.

Colour Chips

Updated 16/9/16

Full Size

Base+60% Mods+TKL Mods+Numpad+Novelties
Updated 6/1/17

Minivan

Base+Tsangan/Colemak/Minivan/JD45/etc. Kit+Novelties
Updated 6/1/17

65% (Tada, Whitefox, RS2 etc)

Base+60% Mods+TKL Mods+tsangan+Novelties
Updated 6/1/17

Pok3r/GH60/ General 60%

Base+60% Mods+Novelties
Updated 6/1/17

KITS

Base Kit

Updated 5/1/2017

60% Mod Kit

Updated 5/1/2017

Numpad Kit

Updated 6/1/2017

TKL Mod Kit

Added 5/1/2017


Novelty Kit [WIP]

To be sold in 4/5 kits, Updated 6/1/17

65/75% Kit

Updated 6/1/17

Tsangan Kit

Updated 5/1/2017

40% OLKB Kit

Added 5/1/2017

Windows Kit

Updated 5/1/2017


ErgoDox Kit

Added 13/1/2017

International Kit

Updated 5/1/2017

UK Kit

Added 5/1/2017

Alt Iso Return Kit

Added 5/1/2017

Macro Kit

Added 5/1/2017

Space Kit

To be sold in 2u, 3u, 6.25u, 6.5u, and 7u kits, NB: 2u and 3u will be blanks as opposed to true space bars. Added 5/1/2017

Homing Kit

Added 5/1/2017


WORKLOG

More

30/8/16- IC Started
31/8/16- Novelties Updated, UK Kit added
3/9/16- Novelties Updated (Towel added, Don't panic thinned, Marvin Refined), UK Kit split into UK Kit and Alt ISO Return kit, Keyboard Layouts added, Banner Added
4/9/16- Feedback Form Added, Novelties Updated (Dolphin, Word condensing of So Long and The Fish for added compatibility with other novelties), Updated Red to match more closely the chip. Very subtle difference so I have not noted it in the Updated/Added below the images.
5/9/16- International Kit Added, Whitefox/Tada/65% Kit Added, Novelty Kit split into Novelty+Don't panic Kit, Ergodox Updated with 2 more 1u blanks and 2 more 1.5u blanks.
11/9/16- Massive Condensation/Streamlining; most kits removed, num and modifiers merged with base, TSANGAN etc expanded slightly, Novelties updated.
13/9/16- Novelties Updated to be more manufacturable, legends centered, ISO enter and 1.25 u Don't Panic removed.
14/9/16- Novelties updated to be manufacturable and size accurate, dolphin novelty removed , replaced with planet dude.
16/9/16- Colour chips updated to be more accurate.
5/1/17- Massive Massdrop Update
Update 5/1/2017, I know that those of you that have been waiting for this set have grown impatient, I just want to assure you that I am working hard and forging ahead to make one hundred percent sure that this set gets run and lots of people buy it. Admittedly there was a time after things fell through that I was considering giving up on this, but I took a step back and realised that not only was the project salvagable in terms of popularity, it could actually be quite big. So without further ado, here's the massdrop update.
6/1/17- Fullsize, 65%, 60%, Minivan example layouts updated to better represent current status of novelties. Numpad Kit updated, replacing the return text with Enter.
Novelties Updated; Infinity removed, white on yellow becomes black on yellow to better match text of set. Looks rough in 2d but should be much nicer in renders and irl.
7/1/17- 40% olkb set replaced with blanks due to google form feedback.

TO DO

More

Whitefox/Tada/65/75 Mod Kit Merged
International Kit Removed
UK Kit Removed
Kit Suggestions/Requests
Novelty Suggestions/Requests
Read book again
Vector Novelties
Get Renders
Update example layouts
Thin down the novelties to a select few.

[Gajible]

No 42 key?

Blasphemy!

[derezzed]

Needs more Vogon poetry.  Also, the OS key should have a towel on it.

[Twinguin]

"Don't panic"- check
"42"- agree
"Towel  - agree, needs towels!
Can't you put the "we apologize for any inconvenience" on the space bar? Or the "
I need to change my life style"? Or the "So long, and thanks for all the fish". Damn, too many remarkable quotes.

And what about the "mostly harmless"?

Anyway, I'll be in! Great idea!

[jennb]

Yay!

I didn't look through all the keys, but hope there's a Prefect. :/



 

[rowdy]

Looks mostly harmless.

[sony]

>Read book again

Set looks good. I can't wait to see what other novelties you come up with.

[Vigrith]

Lovely theme, colours are great - I'm a sucker for this sort of set, most definitely interested. Looking forward to novelties!

[y2bd]

This set is awesome, super interested. Get on the novelties, this set deserves 'em!

[a-c]

Belgium!

[JDragon]

Belgium!

How rude.

So many quotes from that book, tough to pick out some favorites - I really like the idea of having a quote over the modifier row. Maybe numrow or function row would work, but might be too cramped.

Absolutely need a 42 key though! "Don't panic" as a red Esc key is a necessity imo.

[apstra]

I do not think the spacebar should be printed, but I do like the idea of a 42 or towel key. Set looks cool!

[Twinguin]

Ah, too many ideas:
"SEP" would fit the Enter/Return key (Somebody Else's Problem)!
As graphics: the towel as mantioned, a pot of petunias, a whale, ...


Sent from my iToothbrush

[tofgerl]

Escape key with "42!" would be nice.
Also, have you considered PBT with dye sub?

[MacGruber117]

Loving those kits, I bet you could cover every keyboard imaginable! 

[My_Thoughts]

Loving those kits, I bet you could cover every keyboard imaginable! 

ISO would like a work with you

[My_Thoughts]

Love how you included Colemak   nice work

[jennb]

I will second the DSA PBT. But if it ends up DSA ABS, I'm still in.

BUT from SP's site --  "However, the sublimation process is restricted to printing darker colored graphics onto lighter colored substrates." So, given the font color which I really like, I'm guessing this can't/won't be PBT dye-sub, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[beamingrobot]

Yo this is some real good stuff, I'm in.

[Parzival]

Sign me up please, I'm definitely in

[doom2]

Love it!

[Zophos]

I didn't really enjoy the book to be honest, but the set is a completely different story. The combination looks awesome.

[JacuZ]

Reminds me a lot of PuLSE SA, but the green legends look much more interesting imo, plus the novelty kit for this is fantastic. Definitely keeping an eye on this one! 

[Clemence]

I will second the DSA PBT. But if it ends up DSA ABS, I'm still in.

BUT from SP's site --  "However, the sublimation process is restricted to printing darker colored graphics onto lighter colored substrates." So, given the font color which I really like, I'm guessing this can't/won't be PBT dye-sub, but correct me if I'm wrong.

The set will be DSA ABS, those green legends are a must for me and as you said they only do Dye Sub for PBT.

ISO would like a work with you

ISO and international kits are in the works.

Thanks so much for the positive feedback my dudes! I did a mock up of what some custom legends could possibly look like. IMO keeping the dark legends on the yellow didn't work with these novelties, so I've made them white. I've also created a 42 key, however to not be so on the nose with it I've put it in a less obvious, and I think pretty classy, place . As always most things are subject to change.



The word placement for "so long and thanks for all the fish" is so that if one were to have one of the other novelties as a windows key, the text will still read "So long, thanks for the fish". I dare to opine that this is a pretty decent compromise.

One of the challenges of this novelty kit moving forward will be oversaturation of ideas. I'm hoping to keep things clean and as simple as possible. Distilling such a book as this to its essence will be an immense challenge I'm sure, but I'm up to it and I hope you'll like the final product when it comes about.

[mteinum]

No 42 key?

Blasphemy!

I have 42 keys on my Atreus - there must be a 42 key!

[jennb]

Very classy placement of the 42 key.

I've never heard less is more mentioned when it comes to novelties, so I suspect you might be overwhelmed by all the ideas and suggestions. Stick to your already very fine sensibilities!

[Clemence]

Second guessing the Marvin keycap. Here's a thumb.

[tofgerl]

What about the original Marvin?
http://www.christophercox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/marvin-paranoid-android.jpg

[Twinguin]

Show Image

The word placement for "so long and thanks for all the fish" is so that if one were to have one of the other novelties as a windows key, the text will still read "So long, thanks for the fish". I dare to opine that this is a pretty decent compromise.

Brilliant idea! And even with the OS keys left in: "So long [Windows] thanks for all the [tux]"

[infinitron]

Really liking this.  Definitely interested.

[Clemence]

What about the original Marvin?
http://www.christophercox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/marvin-paranoid-android.jpg

I'd considered it before, but chose the new Marvin because I wanted a circular icon. However, now that I'll be using the thumb instead, the old Marvin becomes more and more appealing.

Thanks again for all of the positive feedback my dudes. I really want to get this set finalized and in the queue as soon as possible with the highest quality possible. Novelty updates are ongoing, right now I'm just contemplating what legend to use for the windows key on the whitefox kit.

[Twinguin]

What about the original Marvin?
http://www.christophercox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/marvin-paranoid-android.jpg

I'd considered it before, but chose the new Marvin because I wanted a circular icon. However, now that I'll be using the thumb instead, the old Marvin becomes more and more appealing.

First I thought as well, that the original Marvin should be taken. But seeing Clemence's graphics of the sad-looking movie-version is so stunning simple and easy to recognize. LIKE!

Cheers from ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha and brought to you by Deep Thought.

[derezzed]

Love how you included Colemak   nice work

That's the odd thing about the DSA profile.  While GBs of other profiles struggle to make MOQ for Colemak, I can't think of a single DSA set that succeeded without Colemak support.

[Clemence]

Tossing up ideas for the Marvin legend. Which set do you prefer?

Old Marvin


New Marvin

[Twinguin]

Tossing up ideas for the Marvin legend. Which set do you prefer?

Both! Please!



Sent from my iToothbrush

[Clemence]

You would not believe how hard it is to vectorize a towel in two colours, while making it recognisable enough to bother using as a novelty. After numerous attempts, some better than others and some which would be funny if they weren't outright sad,

I have settled on a 90% final legend for the towel. Thanks to Rawsor on the /r/mk discord for the starting block. Here it is in all three colours.


I've also been refining the modern marvin legend, to make it both more manufacturable and more aesthetically pleasing.



This is the (almost) complete set, and the novelty kit update as well.




You'll notice that I've cut down on the Don't Panic keys. Once I figure out how, I will have the So Long key read across two lines instead of one.

[hervuli]

Those looks great, "new Marvin" and the towel in particular!

[derezzed]

Original Marvin is awesome because it looks like a moai.  New Marvin is awesome because Alan Rickman (the movie was generally a POS).  The towel is great.  When people see that on your keyboard, they'll say "There's a frood who really knows where his towel is."

[William_S_Jones]

Nice, loving the colors. I'm most likely in when this drops!

[Twinguin]

Towel looks great. Good job. :thumbup:

Thanks for the effort. Love this set.


Sent from my iToothbrush

[ninnysquat]

I'd be interested in something THIS awesome!

[talthalra]

Maybe a dolphin key? I dunno. I'll buy a set even without it.

[Clemence]

Did somebody say dolphin novelty?

More words have been condensed so people can use more of those lovely vector novelties in their home row.

Looking back into a printed space bar. I think it'd be a cool little unique thing to go with this kit. Just trying to keep the prices down however, so I'll be chopping and changing as the days go by.

Once again thanks for all the positive feedback, it helps me gauge interest in the set and so far lots of people seem to be interested.

Remember to fill out the form if you haven't.

[Hypocaffeinic]

Love it. Love the theme, love the colours, love the novelties. In for all the kits just in case one day I have all the keyboards! 

[dustigroove]

Out of curiosity, how did you pick the colors that you chose... what piece from the catalog was the inspiration?

[Clemence]

Out of curiosity, how did you pick the colors that you chose... what piece from the catalog was the inspiration?

I used the (IMO) gorgeous dust cover from the 1995 Heinemann omnibus. Something about the way the planets and the galaxy were painted, and the simplicity of the letters set above just felt so classy. I've had the collection for over a year now but only recently did I realise that the colours would make a great set.


The cover in question.

[dustigroove]

I used the (IMO) gorgeous dust cover from the 1995 Heinemann omnibus. Something about the way the planets and the galaxy were painted, and the simplicity of the letters set above just felt so classy. I've had the collection for over a year now but only recently did I realise that the colours would make a great set.

Show Image

The cover in question.

Thanks. I suppose I should have realized from your banner in the op, LOL... and I take it the red/yellow was added from the Don't Panic colors?

[Clemence]

Thanks. I suppose I should have realized from your banner in the op, LOL... and I take it the red/yellow was added from the Don't Panic colors?

The red is from Don't panic, the yellow is from a black and yellow banner at the bottom that says "The Complete Edition - Now A Major Film". I chopped it out because it's annoying, but I did like the way the yellow balanced out the blue to create a more rounded harmony between the blue and the green.

[dustigroove]

Thanks. I suppose I should have realized from your banner in the op, LOL... and I take it the red/yellow was added from the Don't Panic colors?

The red is from Don't panic, the yellow is from a black and yellow banner at the bottom that says "The Complete Edition - Now A Major Film". I chopped it out because it's annoying, but I did like the way the yellow balanced out the blue to create a more rounded harmony between the blue and the green.

Appreciate the explanation... always intrigued what inspires folks.

I guess I also did not mentally have those particular colors in my head for a Hitchhiker's inspired colorway, so I figured I'd ask.

[deductivemonkee]

Depending on prices, I'd buy a base kit, 60% mods kit, and the ever needed novelty kit. Love the colors