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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Matt174e on Sat, 24 January 2015, 16:38:26

Title: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: Matt174e on Sat, 24 January 2015, 16:38:26

I downloaded the WASDKeyboards template and was working on it for a few hours, but after seeing a real-life picture of the pink keycaps, I don't think I want to order the keys from them. The colour isn't quite the right shade I'm looking for.

I'm hoping to spend less than $100, but I'll pay a little more if I have to for quality keycaps.

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

For those wondering, they are flag colours. And the legends are based of common local slang.

Title: Re: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sat, 24 January 2015, 20:46:46

Someone has to say it, may as well be me - you're not going to get a custom set for $100.  One of the few places that can do custom legends is Signature Plastics and their FAQ says a one off set would be $750.

Sorry :(

Title: Re: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: Data on Sat, 24 January 2015, 20:54:35

Welcome to GeekHack.  You've got a lot of reading ahead of you.

Don't worry, you'll get over the sticker shock soon.  We can gather from your $100 budget that you're not loaded with cash.  If you want custom key caps you're going to have to convince at least 24 other people to like them as much as you do so the lot of you can go in together on a group buy.  Good news is this is probably the single best place to do a thing like that.

Good luck.  ;)

Title: Re: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: Melvang on Sat, 24 January 2015, 20:59:15

Keep in mind that any colors you see will not be totally accurate.  The only way to know for sure what colors they are is to old them in your hand. 

Title: Re: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: Mandolin on Sat, 24 January 2015, 21:00:51

I do custom works for 200+. High detailed sculpting and mix of materials is possible, sculpted with surgical tools by hand.

You should check up shapeways. I believe they are on your budget.

attachment of work in progress

Title: Re: Where can I get custom keycaps made?
Post by: XMIT on Wed, 28 January 2015, 10:56:42

If color accuracy is important to you - perhaps consider the key sampler pack that WASDKeyboards offers on their site for $12 before shipping. Perhaps an e-mail to their support folks will help you get just a pink keycap for less if that is your goal. They've been great about responding to my e-mails quickly.

Are these Newfoundland colors?

Color fidelity is hard to get right on a monitor. I've got a nice workstation setup with a good wide gamut IPS display and a color calibration puck and I'm still surprised sometimes. Swatches or samples are the way to go.