Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy

[hashbaz]

Unfortunately it has to be a centerline for the font (i.e. Single thickness for the font). This means we won't get as much detail (and I have to "redraw" them).

Do we know why your original approach won't work?

cycloverid's moogle legends have two different cutter widths.

[hazeluff]

Do we know why your original approach won't work?

cycloverid's moogle legends have two different cutter widths.

Does it? Is it 2 widths on the same key? Because in my mind that seems very complex.

[hashbaz]

Does it? Is it 2 widths on the same key? Because in my mind that seems very complex.

Yup, 2 widths on the same key, connected even.  Check out the cross on the Ts and Fs on cycloverid's moogle kit.

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[jwaz]

Well awesome then! I don't know why I can't work this stuff out with Melissa very easily...

[hazeluff]

Can you ask how centerlines for multiple widths work. By that i mean like = how do i indicate which line is what width and i also need to know what widths they have available (I'd like to know so I can render samples of how they would look).

[mehkat1974]

Keep up the good work mate, I am so excited about this I can't sleep. It's really fun following your progress!
White filco arrived today

[hazeluff]

Keep up the good work mate, I am so excited about this I can't sleep. It's really fun following your progress!
White filco arrived today

This might take a while, but we're moving that way.



Does cloverid/anyone have the moogle SVGs? I'd like to see them and maybe reuse parts of it if possible...

[hashbaz]

This might take a while, but we're moving that way.

Does cloverid/anyone have the moogle SVGs? I'd like to see them and maybe reuse parts of it if possible...

I can hook you up with the ones from my RGBY group buy (Esc, Ctrl, Alt, and Shift).  They are quite a bit better than the ones used in the R2 moogle buy.  I'm not sure if cycloverid has also tweaked Win and Caps Lock.  PM me your email address.

[hazeluff]

Alright I got the SVGs for RGBY. I know how i'll be designing the new files. I just need to know cutter widths available, once Jesuswasazombie gets a reply from Melissa.

BACK TO WRITING UP COURSEWORK!

[jwaz]

Alright I got the SVGs for RGBY. I know how i'll be designing the new files. I just need to know cutter widths available, once Jesuswasazombie gets a reply from Melissa.

BACK TO WRITING UP COURSEWORK!

So apparently Cycloverid got some kind of exception and Melissa said that it is too costly for them to use multiple widths...

As for the size of a single cutter 0.012-0.030


Maybe we should go in a different direction than SP... but who else makes custom doubleshots?

[cancelx]

Maybe Fentek?

[hazeluff]

Maybe Fentek?

I have found out everyone (inc Fentek) get their keycaps done by SP.

So apparently Cycloverid got some kind of exception and Melissa said that it is too costly for them to use multiple widths...

As for the size of a single cutter 0.012-0.030


Maybe we should go in a different direction than SP... but who else makes custom doubleshots?

I would suggest dyesub, cept the color scheme is dolch...= /

[litster]

I would suggest dyesub, cept the color scheme is dolch...= /

I don't think you can put white ink on dark grey and have the white ink show up correctly.

[jwaz]

Dolch double shot otakus!

[hazeluff]

Dolch double shot otakus!

So blanks? with imaginary legends?

[jwaz]

Yeah or just print out the SVGs and glue them to the keycaps...

In all seriousness I'm not sure how to proceed.

current Pros & (Cons)

Cool replica Dolch key caps (Pricey for custom legends)
Cherry Legends (albeit somewhat inaccurately thick or thin lines)
Double shots (thin key caps)

[hazeluff]

Yeah or just print out the SVGs and glue them to the keycaps...

In all seriousness I'm not sure how to proceed.

current Pros & (Cons)

Cool replica Dolch key caps (Pricey for custom legends)
Cherry Legends (albeit somewhat inaccurately thick or thin lines)
Double shots (thin key caps)

= /

[tsangan]

OP really? After all this time, this is the conclusion you came up with?

We knew ALL those things before hazeluff started working on those SVGs

[hazeluff]

OP really? After all this time, this is the conclusion you came up with?

We knew ALL those things before hazeluff started working on those SVGs

Not all of it. = / but lets see.

[jwaz]

OP really? After all this time, this is the conclusion you came up with?

We knew ALL those things before hazeluff started working on those SVGs

O RLY?

So you knew that SP had made keycaps with multiple cutter lengths before but wouldn't now that I wanted to do a whole board instead of just a moogle kit?

That list was just to summarize and quite frankly I'm considering the single width cherry legend a deal breaker (unless it looks good and people like it enough to buy it). However I don't want to pressure hazeluff into having to make more SVGs while he's trying to do coursework (and thank you so much Hazeluff for all the work you have put into this!). Which is why I wrote that list to garner interest and find the direction which the people (who want these caps and are willing to pay) interested want to go.


EDIT: Not all of us have a lot of money to throw around and these will most likely be somewhat expensive so the quality and thus demand rule how I am going to proceed with this project.

[tsangan]

So what I said 8 pages ago

It will be VERY expensive, people would be better off just buying a legit set then getting a moogle kit

[jwaz]

So we shouldn't bother? How awesome would it be if everyone could use the original 80s cherry font in all of their GBs?

To me its worth trying to do at least...

[Reptile]

I don't think it would be worth the cost unless we could source the real font

[jwaz]

Either petition Sixty and plan some sort of espionage

http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=873

[hazeluff]

O RLY?

So you knew that SP had made keycaps with multiple cutter lengths before but wouldn't now that I wanted to do a whole board instead of just a moogle kit?

That list was just to summarize and quite frankly I'm considering the single width cherry legend a deal breaker (unless it looks good and people like it enough to buy it). However I don't want to pressure hazeluff into having to make more SVGs while he's trying to do coursework (and thank you so much Hazeluff for all the work you have put into this!). Which is why I wrote that list to garner interest and find the direction which the people (who want these caps and are willing to pay) interested want to go.


EDIT: Not all of us have a lot of money to throw around and these will most likely be somewhat expensive so the quality and thus demand rule how I am going to proceed with this project.

Courseworks fine, it comes and go. I'm free after monday.

Anyway. I personally think we should just go for the pre-existing fonts on dolch color keycaps. It'll keep cost down and should attract the bunch of people who can't afford $100 sets. If we go with a decision to make new SVGs for single width, I'd be happy to do it. BUT I don't recommend it, since you won't get much difference to fonts that SP already have. The Cherry font really required at least 2 widths to do.

[jwaz]

I'll have to wait till Monday to get an estimate.

[dorkvader]

Dolch double shot otakus!

So blanks? with imaginary legends?

Blank double shot keys do exist, I think. They're the best "otaku"

[litster]

Only the smartest people can notice the existence of double-shot otaku keycaps.  They are called "Do'htaku".

[hazeluff]

I like the idea of black on black (same exact plastic preferably).

Will look so awesome.

[hashbaz]

If we go with a decision to make new SVGs for single width, I'd be happy to do it. BUT I don't recommend it, since you won't get much difference to fonts that SP already have. The Cherry font really required at least 2 widths to do.

The finished keys from my group buy should provide a decent test for whether it's worth proceeding without multiple widths, though I won't have any from the main alphanum cluster where it might be more noticeable.  My Esc prototype has a single-width E, and looks really good.

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[litster]

SP seems to be getting to much business from us.  First they start charging more in group buy 4 to cover their potential screw-ups because they can't do their job for group buy 3. Now they say "oh, 2 cuts is too much work, we won't do it again."  

We really need a second source for double shot keycaps.  Calling imsto... Calling imsto!!!

[Creizai]

What type of keys are you planning to print these on? Its hard for me to switch to any other keys than PBT

[hazeluff]

The finished keys from my group buy should provide a decent test for whether it's worth proceeding without multiple widths, though I won't have any from the main alphanum cluster where it might be more noticeable.  My Esc prototype has a single-width E, and looks really good.

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The S is so asymmetrical it hurts. The single/double width will stand out on keys like A, H, R, Q. Its not a lot of keks that have 2 widths, but for a person who wants "replicas" i wouldn't consider single width to be one.

What type of keys are you planning to print these on? Its hard for me to switch to any other keys than PBT

ABS(??) if I remember correctly, that's what doubleshots use.

[hashbaz]

The S is so asymmetrical it hurts. The single/double width will stand out on keys like A, H, R, Q. Its not a lot of keks that have 2 widths, but for a person who wants "replicas" i wouldn't consider single width to be one.

Aren't "replicas" already out of the question given the thin walls and different profile?

[hazeluff]

Aren't "replicas" already out of the question given the thin walls and different profile?

replica looks?

[jwaz]

Got a response from Cherry this morning and the official name of the font is "Formula One"

[hazeluff]

Got a response from Cherry this morning and the official name of the font is "Formula One"

Which doens't turn out anything useful when searching for it.

[IvanIvanovich]

Just a thought, but has anyone asked Devlin for pricing? Their keys are a lot more close to Cherry if not the same profile, and are as thick as Cherry ones. Even if considerable more expensive, I say worth it as I personally don't really care for SP profiles at all let alone the quality. The bottom row is too angled and sharp edged in my opinion.
VAG Rounded is a pretty close match for font.

[dorkvader]

Just a thought, but has anyone asked Devlin for pricing? Their keys are a lot more close to Cherry if not the same profile, and are as thick as Cherry ones. Even if considerable more expensive, I say worth it as I personally don't really care for SP profiles at all let alone the quality. The bottom row is too angled and sharp edged in my opinion.
VAG Rounded is a pretty close match for font.

Yeah, that spacebar is like a knife!

So devlin is more expensive? Have we conteacted them about US copyright issues? I suspect SC2 sets will still be popular, despite the added cost.

[hazeluff]

SC keys going at like $5+ a key. People probably would still buy them.

[hashbaz]

I've never heard of Devlin, but googling for VAG Rounded yields a pleasing-looking font.  Do we have any idea what it would cost to get sets made with this font?  And why are we talking about SC2 keys?

[IvanIvanovich]

Yeah, it's pretty close, but some are off. Most of the numbers look different, the H is too wide, the M is wrong and the tail on the Q is a little too long, etc. I will keep looking through my font books and see if I can find anything closer. If not I suppose could load it up in font editor and fix those things. Not sure if using a custom font over svg offer any savings but probably easier to deal with.

[jwaz]

Just keep in mind that we can only use a single width line for doubleshots (at SP)

As for Devlin, what is their official site? The one listed in the Devlin wiki isn't for custom stuff.

[IvanIvanovich]

http://devlin.co.uk/ also http://www.devlincomponents.co.uk/ ... UK member would probably have better luck contacting since they can phone. They don't seem to like email.

[jwaz]

Shot 'em an email regardless, thanks for the info.

Edit: Called them but realized its about 9pm in Hampshire...

[Reptile]

I don't understand how Devlin wasn't brought up before? I would think the guys at deskthority have used them before.

[IvanIvanovich]

Not sure about DT, other than a thread discussing the possibility of a buy that ended with no info... I've seen some mentions of them being used to manufacture a Korean sites GB stuff. Poor translations and likely sketchy details at the start didn't provide relevant info.

[Reptile]

Not sure about DT, other than a thread discussing the possibility of a buy that ended with no info... I've seen some mentions of them being used to manufacture a Korean sites GB stuff. Poor translations and likely sketchy details at the start didn't provide relevant info.

Any pictures?

[IvanIvanovich]

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KBDHOLIC source.

Seems to elude to Devlin only will do double shot on 1unit keys? Even though the 'blank' over 1unit also appear to be double shot with nothing... WTF?

[Reptile]

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