[IC] PBT backlit keycaps in cherry profile

[northkeycaps]

I believe that there is a real lack of offerings for backlit PBT keycaps at an affordable price. The best options right now are the Matrix Keyboards keycap sets, but these are far too flashy for me. For this reason, I have started looking into manufacturing double shot backlit PBT keycaps sets.

 I believe that it is possible to produce a double shot PBT keycap set with backlit lettering and closed letters in cherry profile at a price point below $60 per set.

I have come up with three options. Which do you prefer?

1. all the keycaps required to make a dual tone keycap set. A full set of the first color and a second one in a second color for a price around $80.

2. One dual tone keycap set with the choice of main and modifier colors, priced at $60 or less.

3. A keycap set with only one custom color, priced around $40.

The color scheme I was thinking about is yellow (gold) and blue, or blue and dark grey. If we went with only a one-color keycap set, I would like to do it in blue.

If you are interested here is a survey : https://forms.gle/dXkxDRi54Z5qmPaF6

Here are some renderings of the possible color schemes. The lettering would be different from the render it would be backlit

[hali]

What manufacturer are you considering?

[TheMilkmen]

So are the legends both colored and yet also shine through or am I misunderstanding this?

I feel that these could be a good option for newer people of it works out, but new account with this as the first post probably means the krelbit copypasta will be needed sadly.

But I do think there is a chance of this working

[jstein91]

Interested. My preference would be the grey alphas with the blue mods.

[northkeycaps]

What manufacturer are you considering?

They won’t be as thick as GMK's keycaps, but they won’t be cheap keycaps like the one on AliExpress.  I am looking for a good value for price and quality. 

So are the legends both colored and yet also shine through or am I misunderstanding this?

I feel that these could be a good option for newer people of it works out, but new account with this as the first post probably means the krelbit copypasta will be needed sadly.

But I do think there is a chance of this working

The legend will not be colored. It will be shine trough. On the render they are colored because my rendering skill are to low to render shine through lettering.

When you say krelbit copypasta what does you means by that I am not familiar with this expression.

[switchnollie]

What manufacturer are you considering? The manufacturers that I am considering at this point are all from china. I didn’t found manufacturer that can produce Double shoot PBT keycaps with transparent lettering somewhere else.

They won’t be as thick as GMK's keycaps, but they won’t be cheap keycaps like the one on AliExpress.  I am looking for a good value for price and quality. 

So are the legends both colored and yet also shine through or am I misunderstanding this?

The legend will not be colored. It will be shine trough. On the render they are colored because my rendering skill are to low to render shine through lettering.

When you say krelbit copypasta what does you means by that I am not familiar with this expression.

If you quote the user's comment you can reply to it and display it in a way so that it doesn't look like you're just talking to yourself

I think it emails them too?
I'm not sure I can't figure out how to have gh mail not go directly to spam so I never check them.

[northkeycaps]

If you quote the user's comment you can reply to it and display it in a way so that it doesn't look like you're just talking to yourself

I think it emails them too?
I'm not sure I can't figure out how to have gh mail not go directly to spam so I never check them.

thanks for the tip!

[shansoft]

Backlit keycap will not function properly with thick double shot. I believe one of the designer tried it before with GMK and was a fail due to uneven backlit.

One way to do this is to use dyesub to covered the entire keycap and leave the legend out. Sanctuary Rebirth sets actually accidentally pull off backlit function from it.

[northkeycaps]

Backlit keycap will not function properly with thick double shot. I believe one of the designer tried it before with GMK and was a fail due to uneven backlit.

One way to do this is to use dyesub to covered the entire keycap and leave the legend out. Sanctuary Rebirth sets actually accidentally pull off backlit function from it.

Thank you for this information.

I will not ask the factory to produce thick keycaps like those of GMK.

I am currently waiting on sample from a factory to see the quality of their keycaps. This first sample is going to be in OEM profile because they currently don’t have a Cherry mold for double shot backlit keycaps. They are currently working on building one.

[Hugs94]

Looks like GMK Blue Samurai. Good luck with IC

[northkeycaps]

Looks like GMK Blue Samurai. Good luck with IC

Actually Tai-Hao ad a similar color scheme before the Blue Samurai.  I hate the blue that Tai-Hao used and for the blue Samurai they are not backlit.
I personally preferred the blue and yellow version. But I don’t think enough people are going to love it. I think that the yellow could be darker.

[hali]

They won’t be as thick as GMK's keycaps, but they won’t be cheap keycaps like the one on AliExpress.  I am looking for a good value for price and quality.

Just asking because I don't know about any manus that do backlit

[northkeycaps]

I added a survey for people who are interested  https://forms.gle/dXkxDRi54Z5qmPaF6

[equalunique]

Would really like to see keycaps like this offered with support for more layouts, 7u spacebar, tiny spacebars, etc.

[northkeycaps]

Would really like to see keycaps lioe this offered with support for more layouts, 7u spacebar, tiny spacebars, etc.

If there is enough interest, I can look into it, but the minimum order quantity is really high for this kind of keycaps set…

[Sirrom23]

Being from Indiana, the blue/yellow colorways remind me of the Pacers. The colors are almost identical. My preference is the blue alphas and grey mods. I have the Miami Matrix PBT backlit keycaps, and I love them. Just want more color options. But they've held up great and I have no complaints with them.

[northkeycaps]

Being from Indiana, the blue/yellow colorways remind me of the Pacers. The colors are almost identical. My preference is the blue alphas and grey mods. I have the Miami Matrix PBT backlit keycaps, and I love them. Just want more color options. But they've held up great and I have no complaints with them.

Thank you for your feedback

[Owl]

I'd be interested in this for sure. I'd love to see quality and attractive backlit keycaps as they are under represented right now due to the hardships that people have faced in the past manufacturing them.

[SmilingPudding]

I'm a big fan of backlit keyset but AFAICT it's going to be incompatible with 90% of PCBs where LEDs are in south position.