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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: OnTheBrink on Sat, 16 February 2013, 14:22:21
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I am about to purchase my PBT key caps and after this wonderful place helped me with a lot of my issues, I have one more prevailing question.
Should I go for Dye Sub or Engraved!?
Here are the two I am between at the moment:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-105-PBT-black-on-black-sub-dye-key-caps-for-Cherry-MX-switches-keyboards-/300836182296?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item460b3bd918
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PBT-black-engraved-key-caps-for-Filco-keyboard-Cherry-/300580706536?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item45fc0198e8
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Do you want highly visible legends or some that you can feel more than see?
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Do you want highly visible legends or some that you can feel more than see?
Will the black dye sub on black keys really constitute as highly visible? If so, then engraved it is. I don't really need to see the legend that often, I just wanted to be able to during those rare occasions I need to.
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In comparison to engraved I will say yes. I found the engraved nearly impossible to see in anything but the most ideal lighting. Honestly I would rather get blanks.
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In comparison to engraved I will say yes. I found the engraved nearly impossible to see in anything but the most ideal lighting. Honestly I would rather get blanks.
Yeah, blanks is really what I want, but I am scared... lol, if that makes sense. I wish there was a side print engraved haha.
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It's a good way to improve your touchtyping.
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I have blanks and can touch type well. However I still struggle with number entry. Go for one of the sets you found, that would be my advice :)
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With engraved keys you can feel the engraved pits in the keytops when you type. Some people find this annoying. With dye sub, the keytops are flat. Maybe this will tip the balance. I have both kinds, I prefer dye sub over engraved.
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With engraved keys you can feel the engraved pits in the keytops when you type. Some people find this annoying. With dye sub, the keytops are flat. Maybe this will tip the balance. I have both kinds, I prefer dye sub over engraved.
I went with the engraved since I am not too fond of how the dye sub font looks and I like the way the engraved is hardly visible unless needed. Also, I dig the way the engraved looks. It makes the keys look even more textured. Almost like a suede.
However, I intend on getting a Blue Switch board backup when WASD releases it's TKL. I will probably get blank or dye sub then. If I hate the feeling of the engraved I am sure I can flip them for what I paid for them or at least a bit less.
My next search is an Escape key. Oh how I want a tri-color Clack Factory skull.
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I plan on going with blank, even though I can barely touch type.
Get a picture of your keyboards layout and keep it at the ready.
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Dye Sub FTW!
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Dye Sub FTW!
Another Dye Sub fan!? But I already purchased the engraved ones, lol! Can anyone give me some positive!?
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I got some engraves and I was surprised to find how much visual queues actually help me type quickly. I like to see the legends...side printed is the closest Ill come to blanks now. I think that engraves can be tough in certain lighting conditions..unless you dont even need to glance at your board when you type.
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I've used a blank set for a long time before I switched to another keyboard that came with engraved lettering. The ability to feel the lettering on each cap annoyed me off to no end. I've since then switched to doubleshots, can't feel it on this. Also got a set of dyesub coming in, looking forward to those.
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Dye Sub FTW!
Another Dye Sub fan!? But I already purchased the engraved ones, lol! Can anyone give me some positive!?
engraved keys are a dirt trap. I have no idea why they are so popular
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I like dyesub, my hands get dirty and like Binge said, engraved just traps grime.
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I guess engraved please those that are a fan of biological infill.
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I guess engraved please those that are a fan of biological infill.
Thanks for that nasty mental image @.@
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Since my engraved order wasn't shipped, I got a refund and bought dye sub lol.
The dirt comments were the nail in the coffin for that decision. lol
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Dyesubs (well... it's the only option for topre xD), but white engraved are pretty nice if you keep your hands clean, plus you can easily clean them by soaking them in bleach.
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This sub just settled this issue for me. You had me at dirt/grime. Thank you.
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I like dyesub, my hands get dirty and like Binge said, engraved just traps grime.
This. Dyesub master race, reporting in. I like how thick the dyesub legends are. It's definitely more appealing than engraved, dirt-hoarding keys.
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I think this is really personal preference.
Personally I have never had a problem with dirt in engraved keys. I have black keys with large engraved letters (Qtan's PBT engraved keycaps), which are not a problem. And I have had light greyish engraved keys with very small engraved letters in the upper left of the keycap, also not a problem.
Maybe I am just very clean (I do have clean dry hands, but on the other hand, I often eat at my desk) or maybe the dirt comments are more based on speculation than actual experience. I would say that the annoyance from feeling the engraving is also not a real issue on a lot of engraved keycaps. If I feel the ones I am typing on now, I actually would not be able to tell they were engraved when touching them, and the engravings are fairly large.
I would choose based on aesthetics. While the Dye sub looks great, I went with engraved because it is a little different from what you typically see in other keyboards. Having the keys consist on one material and one color is also very clean looking and appealing to me. Blanks are great for this reason too, but I feel it would be unnecessarily elitist, plus I want my girl to be able to use my computer if need be (truth be told, the engraved already pose a problem, but at least she can use it without having to plug in another keyboard)
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I usually get engraved and never had an issue with grime. Although I keep my keyboard clean and usually clorex/lysol wipe them once a week. To me engraved caps just look nice as well, they are great for those who dont want to just go full out blank.
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I have noticed grime in my Ctrl key on my engraved Leopold. If I had to choose Dyesub vs Etched I would have to go with none of the above. I prefer doubleshots.
Note: To clean it, I use denture tabs every few months.
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I am one of those people that find the tactile feel of engraved keys to be annoying. Put me in the dye sub camp!