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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 15:12:05

Title: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 15:12:05
So, being that I am a keycap design newb, can everyone weigh in on keycap preferences when considering profile of a novelty keycap? Keep in mind I am asking in regards to SA, DSA, or DCS/Cherry/OEM profiles and Row heights.
Title: Re: Novelty keycap profile...
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 08 September 2014, 15:13:43
Cherry Topre

And throw in some buckling spring.
Title: Re: Novelty keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 15:19:03
Cherry Topre

And throw in some buckling spring.

Wha-?

 :eek:

Key-cap, not key-switch...I amended the title to narrow down to Cherry MX... :))
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 08 September 2014, 15:28:00
Well, I mean, if you're ONLY doing the worst switch, go for Cherry profile.

But Topre and BS are better.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: spookymikal on Mon, 08 September 2014, 16:16:22
Well, I mean, if you're ONLY doing the worst switch, go for Cherry profile.

But Topre and BS are better.

Better at what exactly?

My cherry MX blacks are better at typing quietly.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 16:36:39
Well, I mean, if you're ONLY doing the worst switch, go for Cherry profile.

But Topre and BS are better.

Best profile, as in most popular...

Topper, I mean Topre thread crapping not allowed. I am just trying to come up with an idea of the most popular all around profile and row height in which to begin my mass generating of keycaps that will appeal to most, not all, people. Least of all, Topre fanboys who like to thread crap on a thread that I want genuine feed back on. I want the rule, not the exception esoom.'
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 08 September 2014, 16:40:27
Well, I mean, if you're ONLY doing the worst switch, go for Cherry profile.

But Topre and BS are better.

Best profile, as in most popular...

Topper, I mean Topre thread crapping not allowed. I am just trying to come up with an idea of the most popular all around profile and row height in which to begin my mass generating of keycaps that will appeal to most, not all, people. Least of all, Topre fanboys who like to thread crap on a thread that I want genuine feed back on. I want the rule, not the exception esoom.'

Like I said, Cherry profile. It is the most popular, by far (not counting the fact that OEM comes on keyboards stock, so is likely the most widepsread, and those users would probably find it curious, if not downright troublesome that the caps you sold, if in Cherry profile, aren't the same height as the ones on their keyboard. That is, unless you're selling entire replacement sets.).

But, if you would quit being so downright sensitive about your little caps to take a joke, you'd see that I said that from my first post.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 16:45:55
Well, I mean, if you're ONLY doing the worst switch, go for Cherry profile.

But Topre and BS are better.

Best profile, as in most popular...

Topper, I mean Topre thread crapping not allowed. I am just trying to come up with an idea of the most popular all around profile and row height in which to begin my mass generating of keycaps that will appeal to most, not all, people. Least of all, Topre fanboys who like to thread crap on a thread that I want genuine feed back on. I want the rule, not the exception esoom.'

Like I said, Cherry profile. It is the most popular, by far (not counting the fact that OEM comes on keyboards stock, so is likely the most widepsread, and those users would probably find it curious, if not downright troublesome that the caps you sold, if in Cherry profile, aren't the same height as the ones on their keyboard. That is, unless you're selling entire replacement sets.).

But, if you would quit being so downright sensitive about your little caps to take a joke, you'd see that I said that from my first post.

Then I retract...you be right.

Danke
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 08 September 2014, 19:51:56
I'd say OEM or Cherry are probably the most popular.  OEM since most keyboard come with these stock, and all the hardcore people seems to like Cherry profile.

HOWEVER Cherry profile is not for everyone, personally I find the middle row too shallow and inconsistent with other row height.  (Feels like it has less travel before bottom out)  To me OEM feels more natural.

So for those that doesn't get a full set of custom keycaps, OEM is better.  For those who gets a full set of custom keycaps, it depends because now Vortex/Ducky have their OEM, Signature Plastics have their own DCS which is similar but NOT the same as Leopold's profile or Cherry profile.

In short I think OEM is safest choice.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Mon, 08 September 2014, 20:10:09
I'd say OEM or Cherry are probably the most popular.  OEM since most keyboard come with these stock, and all the hardcore people seems to like Cherry profile.

HOWEVER Cherry profile is not for everyone, personally I find the middle row too shallow and inconsistent with other row height.  (Feels like it has less travel before bottom out)  To me OEM feels more natural.

So for those that doesn't get a full set of custom keycaps, OEM is better.  For those who gets a full set of custom keycaps, it depends because now Vortex/Ducky have their OEM, Signature Plastics have their own DCS which is similar but NOT the same as Leopold's profile or Cherry profile.

In short I think OEM is safest choice.  :thumb:

So, what do you think about DCS since most if not all the keycaps I create will be made by Signature Plastics. I know from experience that DCS is close to OEM but certainly not dead on. What Row height would be good for a single one off keycap?
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 08 September 2014, 23:09:51
Hmmmmmm to be honest I don't have too much experience with DCS, from what I heard the height goes something like this.

Tallest --> Shotest

OEM > Leopold > DCS > Cherry

And I think most of the time they always make the the top row profile (Esc, F1, F2 ......etc) since people usually always put novelty keycaps at the Esc key location.  :P

I forgot their numbering system, I just know Signature Plastics use reverse order compare to Costar.  Like one of them count from 1, 2, 3, 4 starting from bottom and one of them count from top.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: Melvang on Mon, 08 September 2014, 23:24:53
Esc and number row are Row 4 my SP's DCS profile.  If you go OEM it will be close enough for novelty keys especially if they are sculpted and not just diff legends that nobody will really care.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: Oobly on Tue, 09 September 2014, 04:01:02
Depends on the design of the novelty cap. For instance, your Vault 13 cap is perfect for SA profile, very happy that it tipped, by the way :) Suits the Nuclear Data Green set, too. I think it's a good idea to match to Group Buy sets or sets with similar colours.

It also depends on who makes the cap. SP cannot do Cherry profile, but DCS is close enough for the row that most use for putting their novelty caps on (F key row on TKL and numbers row on 60%).

DCS is quite a bit lower profile than OEM (which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer), although there are actually a number of versions of OEM, since each keyboard manufacturer can make their own keycaps and they don't end up exactly the same. So even if you choose OEM profile, they won't match the keys on all "OEM" keycap sets. Then again, OEM is still the most commonly used profile, since many people just keep using the stock caps that come with their board.

(http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/redesc_compare1000_th0x0.jpg)

So for a "generic" novelty cap, OEM profile dyesub can work, but most people just go SP DCS Row 1.
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: 00zeRO on Tue, 09 September 2014, 10:34:44
Depends on the design of the novelty cap. For instance, your Vault 13 cap is perfect for SA profile, very happy that it tipped, by the way :) Suits the Nuclear Data Green set, too. I think it's a good idea to match to Group Buy sets or sets with similar colours.

It also depends on who makes the cap. SP cannot do Cherry profile, but DCS is close enough for the row that most use for putting their novelty caps on (F key row on TKL and numbers row on 60%).

DCS is quite a bit lower profile than OEM (which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer), although there are actually a number of versions of OEM, since each keyboard manufacturer can make their own keycaps and they don't end up exactly the same. So even if you choose OEM profile, they won't match the keys on all "OEM" keycap sets. Then again, OEM is still the most commonly used profile, since many people just keep using the stock caps that come with their board.

Show Image
(http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/redesc_compare1000_th0x0.jpg)


So for a "generic" novelty cap, OEM profile dyesub can work, but most people just go SP DCS Row 1.

Do you think that SA Row ? would be well received as a novelty size if I were to do them only in that, or is it too different from OEM for people to purchase them regularly?
Title: Re: Novelty Cherry MX keycap profile...
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 09 September 2014, 10:51:18
SA height may work out the same but it won't be the same shape/profile as OEM. I think you best bet is to go DCS/Cherry. If I'm out to buy novelty caps, I typically won't look for SA profile. SA has only recently become popular and I believe DCS/Cherry will remain the most popular profile.

And I also think that the function row height is the most popular novelty profile height. Not really sure what that is off the top of my head but whatever DCS height that fits that escape/function row would work best imo.