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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: LadyPecs on Wed, 05 December 2012, 13:58:34

Title: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Wed, 05 December 2012, 13:58:34
Hello!
I am working on some custom keycaps at the moment. Here is a picture of one, and heres the link to the album, http://imgur.com/a/GOMLP#0 (http://imgur.com/a/GOMLP#0)  Thanks for looking and any feedback is welcomed, wondering if anyone would want to buy anything like this.

-Will update as I make more.

(http://i.imgur.com/isUFI.jpg)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: absyrd on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:03:07
Intricate design. Nice work.

Better pics would definitely help, though.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:03:47
Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: DanGWanG on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:04:37
Nice dude, that looks very clean
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: SurgeonKyle on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:11:10
Man that looks spectacular, I'd buy the hell out of a keycap like that as long as it's not clickclack levels of expensive.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:21:07
For those who take pictures, what kind of camera are you using?



Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

Unfortunately not at the moment.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: DanGWanG on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:23:23
I use a point and shoot Canon ELPH300HS.  They retail for around $100 or less during holidays and sales.  My photographs are mostly on my blog, linked in my sig

Keys to get a good picture:  1) Good lighting (get near a window that has sunlight), 2) tripod to hold your camera steady, 3) misc settings:  ISO = 100, White Balace = whatever kind of lighting you are under
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:24:51
Thanks for the tips, I'm going to try that out right now.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: tjcaustin on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:25:30
For those who take pictures, what kind of camera are you using?



Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

Unfortunately not at the moment.

My cell for the most part, but I also have a kodak superzoom that's not horrible.  I just suck at picture taking.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:53:50
I use a point and shoot Canon ELPH300HS.  They retail for around $100 or less during holidays and sales.  My photographs are mostly on my blog, linked in my sig

Keys to get a good picture:  1) Good lighting (get near a window that has sunlight), 2) tripod to hold your camera steady, 3) misc settings:  ISO = 100, White Balace = whatever kind of lighting you are under

Thank you, you are a genius. Updated original post with a link to the album with new pictures!

Also, Nice blog! I was literally just on there yesterday, funny coincidence.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Dgsbllx on Wed, 05 December 2012, 14:57:58
These look good and huge. This guy will dominate keyboards! (in a good way)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: el2k on Wed, 05 December 2012, 16:34:24
Very clean work indeed.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: AGmurdercore on Wed, 05 December 2012, 17:07:25
If it is not a secret i would like to ask you how are you doing these key caps? They look really nice!
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: esoomenona on Wed, 05 December 2012, 17:10:29
My kitchen has the best lighting in the house, so my kitchen has become my keyboard workshop... I take pictures with my cell phone.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: esoomenona on Wed, 05 December 2012, 17:11:10
Also, that cap looks pretty cool. Is it related to Samurai Jack or? And it looks like a head on top of a cap. Or is it one piece?
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: feng on Wed, 05 December 2012, 17:52:25
Looks fantastic! Wonder what material you're using? I couldn't tell from the pictures, mostly it's some kinds of plastic though.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: iArson on Wed, 05 December 2012, 18:26:46
That cap looks amazing, looking forward to the chance of buying one :D
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 05 December 2012, 18:27:17
very cool! there is definitely a market for custom keycaps here.

for photos i use a nikon d700 with an old ai'd 55mm/f3.5 and 26.5mm extension ring (for 1:1). basically, i have a fancy macro setup. i typically shoot it handheld during the day with my granite surface plate as a backdrop.

the simplest, cheapest macro camera setup is a cheap ebay stick-on lens kit for one's iphone, however.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: razorsharpgears on Wed, 05 December 2012, 21:02:17
Would definitely buy, keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: jeroplane on Wed, 05 December 2012, 21:07:31
Wow, can't wait to see how it will look with some colour and more detail added. Nice work.

I use my Nikon D5000 with 55-200 kit lens on a tripod about a metre away from the keys and zoomed in (since I don't have a macro lens). I place keycaps on my mouse pad, which has a nice matte black surface with a tiny bit of texture to contrast the smoothness of keys. And the last part of the setup which I realise not many may have is an SB-600 flash gun through a shoot-through umbrella.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 05 December 2012, 21:30:19
This reminds me a bit of D&D.  I can imagine a row of these, different hemlets etc., across the top of the keyboard.

It would make the keyboard nearly unusable (who would want to risk breaking it?), but would look so cool :)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: rekanise on Wed, 05 December 2012, 22:29:39
insane workmanship! would be interested if you decide to start selling
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: nokcha on Wed, 05 December 2012, 22:50:16
Nice! Really digging the unique design you have there. A knight keycap would be awesome.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Kabuks on Wed, 05 December 2012, 22:51:47
The detail in that pic is amazing. :eek: Nice work!
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: brianvoo on Wed, 05 December 2012, 23:26:19
Really nice work, would definitely sell here.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: mistakemistake on Wed, 05 December 2012, 23:31:37
Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

I'm curious about this too. Also, is that one piece or two piece?  Looks cool!

EDIT: OOPS, i didn't see the question answered right after, SORRY!
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Thu, 06 December 2012, 10:20:31
Wow, there is a lot of replies I need to read! Thank you for the feedback everyone. Just came in to drop by a different keycap.
(http://i.imgur.com/qcNDT.jpg)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: baldgye on Thu, 06 December 2012, 10:22:58
holy ****!! O.O thats insane!!
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: tjcaustin on Thu, 06 December 2012, 10:50:31
Dang.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: feng on Thu, 06 December 2012, 11:25:08
lol I always call Bro Caps "gundam" instead of Autobots because of its first impression. Now it's the real gundam keycap. :P
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Thu, 06 December 2012, 11:53:44
If it is not a secret i would like to ask you how are you doing these key caps? They look really nice!

Its not a secret, I just wanted to make one for myself then after It was completed I thought I'd show it here. I'll show you how I made it, It is quite the simple concept.
Ok first step is to find a bunch of random junk that would be cool and is small enough to fit on a keycap. ( No I did not make all of these I am not that awesome. The knights are some off-brand lego.)
(http://i.imgur.com/3J0Ks.jpg)
Then you are going to want to grind off the back of whatever you picked at an angle, enough of one so its looking upward. You also need to get a keycap and grind it off so it is flat, don't grind too much off or there wont be anything left on the top, which obviously is not a good thing.
(http://i.imgur.com/52JZH.jpg)

Then all you need to do is attach it onto the keycap using your favorite adhesive.
(http://i.imgur.com/48zsI.jpg)

Then at this point, you can either leave it how it is, or use some paint and make it all one color, or give it a base coat and then paint it however you wish. Drop a clear coat on there if necessary, and there you go. 
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: baldgye on Thu, 06 December 2012, 12:37:57
awww you broke the illusion... still kinda cool though
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 06 December 2012, 14:57:50
Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: eyesmiles on Thu, 06 December 2012, 16:43:34
Regardless of how the illusion was created, that gundam keycap still looks cool.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Thu, 06 December 2012, 17:16:38
Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]
Title: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Halverson on Thu, 06 December 2012, 18:21:41
Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]

Smooth-on sells quite a few silicone mold making kits. I think people have had success with it. As for making the replica caps, I can't remember. Possibly epoxy resin?
There should be some threads in "making stuff together" with better info than me. :)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Thu, 06 December 2012, 19:37:50
Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]

Smooth-on sells quite a few silicone mold making kits. I think people have had success with it. As for making the replica caps, I can't remember. Possibly epoxy resin?
There should be some threads in "making stuff together" with better info than me. :)

Thanks, I'll give that a look! All of you have been so helpful, I appreciate it.
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Goodfella on Thu, 06 December 2012, 20:19:41
Take 1. and glue it to 2., paint the cap white, and mail it to me, and we will be best internet friendz forever!  ;D

(http://i.imgur.com/AnEH1.jpg)

Thanks,
Patrick
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 06 December 2012, 21:30:09
Keep us updated! :)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: razorsharpgears on Fri, 07 December 2012, 00:35:14
I'll take them all ^_^
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luW7Gd6mnW8/T0dryalmENI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/HcmM7JGWuR0/s1600/shut-up-and-take-my-money-gif.gif)
Title: Re: Custom Misc Prototype
Post by: LadyPecs on Fri, 07 December 2012, 16:29:07
I have added more images to the album. Here is what I am currently working on.
This one is pretty sloppy, the holes for the light to pass through the eyes aren't even.
(http://i.imgur.com/ZrXJR.jpg)