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Author Topic: Adding labels to keys  (Read 2967 times)

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Offline Fwiffo

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Adding labels to keys
« on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 11:36:46 »
I'm thinking of adding some labels to some of my keys that I've mapped to stuff like multimedia functions (e.g. win+up and win+down for volume up and down) and was wondering if there was a good looking, reasonably durable way to do that... The labels would be on the front of the keys, so they wouldn't have to be SUPER durable. I assume somebody here has tried something like this. Do letraset type transfers work?
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Offline Moogle Stiltzkin

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 11:39:25 »
Well, the double shots w a s d orange keys i ordered don't have arrow keys at the side.

So that could be a good candidate to add on arrow labels :X so i too am curious how to do this.
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"So long as we do not depend on the facts entirely, incomplete knowledge is better than complete ignorance."

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Current gaming keyboard: Ducky DK-9008 with Cherry Beige/White doubleshots (Cherry Mx Brown)

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Offline WhiteRice

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 12:56:21 »
Get some slide on decal model paper and print your own stuff, then hit it with some matte clear coat to preserve it.
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Offline Fwiffo

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 13:24:49 »
Not sure if that decal paper is going to be ideal for getting light colored legends on dark keys. I could try making stencils from adhesive vinyl then use model paint. This may require a lot of experimentation.
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Offline WhiteRice

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 13:31:51 »
Yeah unless you can print white, decal paper won't work on dark surfaces. You gave me a good idea though. I'm just going to order a sheet from bandai and make my function row gundam themed.
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Offline Moogle Stiltzkin

  • Posts: 826
Adding labels to keys
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 13:37:52 »
Quote from: WhiteRice;237403
Yeah unless you can print white, decal paper won't work on dark surfaces. You gave me a good idea though. I'm just going to order a sheet from bandai and make my function row gundam themed.


oooo plz take some screenshots if you do.
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"So long as we do not depend on the facts entirely, incomplete knowledge is better than complete ignorance."

:bounce:

Current gaming keyboard: Ducky DK-9008 with Cherry Beige/White doubleshots (Cherry Mx Brown)

For my 2nd pc: Cherry G80-1095 HAU Revision 00 (Cherry Mx Black)

Dye subbed keys harvested from NCR 3299-k440-v001 G80-3007 SAU. Casing donated to Mike.[/FONT]

Free mechanical keyboard + other gear click here![/color]

Offline Pylon

  • Posts: 852
Adding labels to keys
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 16:10:30 »
Just buy a bunch of Microscale lettering sets. They're mainly intended for model railroading, but since a lot of black locomotives get white lettering, I guess they'll work on black surfaces. However, they probably need glossy surfaces to apply well.
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=ALPHA

HO scale is 1/87 as far as I know. So 1 HO scale inch = 1/87".

This might be good. White Futura. 1/16" or so tall for the 4" lettering, 1/12th inch for the 7", ~1/8 inch for the 8".
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Offline Findecanor

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 16:43:52 »
Let me suggest that you put the decal on the key's front instead of its top. Unlike the top, the front does not get as much wear and it is often a smooth surface.
« Last Edit: Fri, 22 October 2010, 16:46:08 by Findecanor »
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Offline Phaedrus2129

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 16:52:47 »
Or get relegendable keycaps.
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Offline Fwiffo

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 22 October 2010, 23:04:54 »
Damn, I've even used those lettering kits before... On my HO scale model trains when I was a kid. My memory is useless.
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Offline mike

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Adding labels to keys
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 27 October 2010, 17:13:20 »
Can't tell you how durable they are, but Letraset transfers fine onto Unicomp keycaps :-



(sorry, should have swished the cap around in water to wash off the bits of Mike :) )

That's supposed to be a copyright symbol (©), but if you're going to try and merge letters like this make sure you have two different sizes.
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Keyboards: Unicomp UB40T56 with JP3 removed, Unicomp UB4044A, Filco Tenkeyless Brown (with pink highlights), Access AKE1223231, IBM DisplayWriter, Das Keyboard III, and a few others.
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