Is it possible to get blank keycaps that show legends with back lights?

[Fish Mittens]

Hello Geekhack, long time lurker here, this is my first actual post I hope this is the correct section to post in.

Here is the situation, I have used an old DasKeyboard 2, with blank keycaps at home for ages, I love the blanks and I love how it improves my typing speed.

However, I have to enter a lot of passwords for various systems as part of my job (I'm a software engineer), and then and only then do I need legends, as for some systems, I have to enter very long and complicated passwords, and I only get x attempts before I end up with a locked account. In this situation, blanks are a pain.

So... I want keycaps that look blank, until a keyboard backlight is turned on, then legends appear.

I am pretty sure such a thing does not exist, nothing came up with extensive searching. If anybody has seen something like this, or knows where I can custom order some, please let me know.
I have a new CodeKeyboard on order for use at work, what I was thinking was to maybe apply a black ink dye to the keycaps. Has anybody ever attempted something like this before? I was thinking with a black die over the clear legends, they would look 'almost' blank, and would still show the legends through the translucent black dye. Terrible idea? possible? Impossible? All advice is appreciated.

Any general advise on dying keycaps would be appreciated also..

Oh and the other idea that I had was to have a Doubleshot keycap, but with a semi-translucent black plastic for the legend, on a black key... Is there any place that makes custom doubleshot keycaps?

[IvanIvanovich]

No there is no such thing. Best bet would be to get something that is more understated backlight model such as this Ducky x NZXT

[inanis]

You could look at a black on black set. Also, Ducky has some sets that have laser engraved PBT where the caps can appear blank since they are not in-filled. Neither will shine through with a backlight though.

[vatne]

Ducky grey with translucent letters should be pretty close to what you're looking for (straight on, you see even less of them)

[Fish Mittens]

Thanks for all the feedback. I have found these on some Chinese websites..

http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.w4011-3036870947.42.cR5MPt&id=38623359021&rn=4389c4f5bb1d9f387f74de0c920f2586

http://www.offerany.com/p-38601850177-eck.html

From the photo's the white seems the most understated and also would look better on black base.

Does anyone have experience ordering from Chinese sites like these?  I only have Chromes built in translate to help me and I feeling a little lost :/

[Darwin]

Have you considered side printed key caps?

Something like this:


but with even less visible, black on black / white on white fonts.. That is, if you can find them..

[00zeRO]

Oh and the other idea that I had was to have a Doubleshot keycap, but with a semi-translucent black plastic for the legend, on a black key... Is there any place that makes custom doubleshot keycaps?

If you were to get with SP, Signature Plastics, they make double shots. If you can have them make a set that would be like this:


Which when backlit would look like this:



They have told me that they can only do the transparent colors that are offered here:


http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/products/translucent-keys/translucent-dcs-keys

If you did a Black Base with White or Green legend(instead of the Yellow pictured above), it may be legible enough for reading for password purposes. Only thing is, it is extremely expensive to do a one off full set...

Another option to consider is trying front side print like these:


http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=245

Just some ideas, IMO.