[IC] GMK CYL Orenji | Samples Approved

[CaptainSterling]

Howdy partners! This is the interest check for GMK CYL Orenji! I’m Tristan, but you may know me as Captain Sterling. I’ve been photographing, designing, streaming, and reviewing keyboards in the space for a little over 3 years now (I think, lol). I appreciate you taking the time to check this out, and I hope you enjoy the set!

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS IC FORM


The Inspiration:

My fascination with this new wave of tech incorporating a retro aesthetic inspired me to make Orenji. I specifically look to the design of Teenage Engineering, the Phase One 65 keyboard, and third-party retro gaming consoles/emulators as retrofuturistic tech that resonates with me.

The novelties for Orenji are designed around fun-shaped speaker cutouts and minimalist switch toggles or sliders from Nintendo and Playstation consoles and Teenage Engineering tools. The name Orenji (a Japanese romanization of the word orange) is a callback to the origin and a nod to one of the more dominant and vibrant colors utilized in this new wave of retro/nostalgic tech. I also get this feeling of futuristic robotics from these colors, so I made the 65/75% column with these cool robotic wings in different configurations. I am also working on a cute little orange robot to be a fun mascot design for the set!

I would love to see what you think of the bold and fun nature of this set and the novelty designs. Orenji is one of the sets I’m most proud of designing, and I’m glad to be able to share it with you. It would be my dream to see it come to life!




Kits -

Base Kit


Novelty Kit


Parts Kit


International Kit



Renders - By Radkbds:

SONOMA by Wired In




Renders- By MVKB:





Renders - By Yours Truly:





Renders - By Jei Kei Design:

Qi65 by Rkeebs_ and an unknown 60 (I’ll figure it out hehe)





Renders - By Rkeebs_:

Qi65





Why Orange?:

- I’m in my orange era! I’ve been obsessing over more bold color options on my caps lately. For a long time I felt this was a color missing from the keyboard space. I’ve been posting teasers of this for nearly a year now over on Instagram, and I have seen that people really vibe with it. I have included all of the specs and current information below. It means a lot to me that you are taking the time to look over my project, so thank you!


Specs:

- CYL Profile: ABS plastic, thick doubleshot keycaps manufactured by GMK | GMK Neue Legends
- Colors: Orange: Pantone 1505 C, Grey: Pantone 420 C


Timeline:

- Pricing / Vendors: Regional vendors / timelines are still TBD but hoping sooner rather than later
- Color matching: Samples are photographed below with a daylight balanced flash, I've approved the colors!
- GB Timeline: TBD
- Changes will be made to the Ctrl + Alt novelties soon, it'll be subtle so stay tuned for that
- Artisan collab (above) produced by Salvun designed by MVKB (crushed it mate), features an actual physical toggle you can fidget with




Thanks To:

- Rad | Beni: Really helping me fine tune and just bounce ideas for renders, he’s been a massive inspiration and help. The renders you’ve done are just amazing.
- Oh Type, Akuko Labs, and Keypothecary: truly grateful for all of the wisdom you guys bless me with. You’re so insightful and give amazing feedback.
- Jei Kei and Rkeebs_: provided some top of the line renders to support the project (more soon!)
- My Wife: for always giving feedback and hyping me up
- MVKB: Absolutely cooking up the most incredible artisan (and renders), you’re the man
-Evan: Thanks for helping me not die doing this geekhack thing, you talked me through it and really helped. A true pal <3



Questions, Comments, Concerns:

- Please comment below and I’ll be sure to read everything (unless you hate it XD)
- If you are an artisan marker and want to collaborate on something, please reach out!
- If this set goes through to a GB, we may have some other fun ideas planned!


Links - follow if you’d like:
Instagram
Twitch
Youtube


IC FORM:

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS IC FORM

[madmax13]

I love the colors and legends! GLWIC!

[DirtyGingy]

You know plenty of us have been waiting

[konstantin]

The year of the orange keyset.
I, too, have recently been falling in love with safety orange. I'll be following this.

Base Kit

Show Image

As it currently stands, the base kit has a 1.25u Shift but no accompanying ISO Return, R3 \| and R4 <> for basic ISO support. I'd recommend adding those; i.e. moving them out of the international kit into base — that way your int'l kit will also be compliant with GMK's standardized int'l kit template (example).
The R1 1u Backspace key might be extraneous and could be removed.
The four 40s support keys are currently rendered as R3/R4, but they should really be R2/R3.
Looks pretty good otherwise.

[XiXora]

The Intl kit is missing the UK R1 keys anyway but I think just following standard kitting as mentioned above would be the move really.
Max does have these designed (Neue Intl)

[extrapriusplease]

Dude looking so proper! Super hyped for you, love the inspiration. If the set runs you better get that pc case!

[Randomlosername]

I will say I really appreciate the two sets of 1.5U novs in that kit. Nice to actually be able to use all novs on R4!

[Zahul]

Orange sets are a part of my soul. I need this

[ZavaZ86]

Neue Legends and it's a no buy instantly

[dvorcol]

Neue Legends and it's a no buy instantly

Overall I like Neue legends. My only objection is that numpad's 2U + and Enter are bottom-aligned. Legends on all other mods are center-aligned.

[ZavaZ86]

Neue Legends and it's a no buy instantly

Overall I like Neue legends. My only objection is that numpad's 2U + and Enter are bottom-aligned. Legends on all other mods are center-aligned.

ISO enter also looks horrible too. Which also leads me to how the kitting is, which I didn't focus on much since I have little interest in this set. So you are including 1.25u shift and 40% support but you can't even have ISO enter key in the basekit. What a joke 

[hekt1k]

I heckin love Orenji

[reidweb]

Neue Legends and it's a no buy instantly

Overall I like Neue legends. My only objection is that numpad's 2U + and Enter are bottom-aligned. Legends on all other mods are center-aligned.

ISO enter also looks horrible too. Which also leads me to how the kitting is, which I didn't focus on much since I have little interest in this set. So you are including 1.25u shift and 40% support but you can't even have ISO enter key in the basekit. What a joke 

+1 to these comments. Love the colours though

[FoxandFoundry]

Neue actually looks OK here, but the GMK classic cherry legends would look even better.

[CONIN]

I'm loving the colour already!, but I'd need it to have sub-legends instead of just plain Alphas. Good luck with the IC, Tristan!

[VXQN]

I love orange, but it's a shame you went with Neue legends, icon mods, and the kanji on the enter novelty (as opposed to something that matches...anything else in the set). Will have to think about this one.

[mr_foggy]

Neue Legends and it's a no buy instantly

Overall I like Neue legends. My only objection is that numpad's 2U + and Enter are bottom-aligned. Legends on all other mods are center-aligned.

ISO enter also looks horrible too. Which also leads me to how the kitting is, which I didn't focus on much since I have little interest in this set. So you are including 1.25u shift and 40% support but you can't even have ISO enter key in the basekit. What a joke 

+1 to these comments. Love the colours though

+2

and

I love orange, but it's a shame you went with Neue legends

[AMZ]

I like it so much! but Neue Legends nah it's a no buy for me

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

Neue like Orange is polarizing

I like the icon mods. Hope this runs.

[Zahul]

Neue like Orange is polarizing

I like the icon mods. Hope this runs.

+1 on the icon mods, looks cool!

[Aruchizan]

I really like the colors of GMK Orenji.

For the people who are against Neue legends, what are your specific objections to it?

[bluntkrayon]

Any chance of a shine through CAPS (including stepped / stepped novelty) and numlock?
Cadet sublegends as well?

[bigmaxnonions]

I really like the colors of GMK Orenji.

For the people who are against Neue legends, what are your specific objections to it?

for me, its as simple as "the font looks weird and i dont like it"

[OrangeOrange]

Love it, one newbie question, the international sublegends like the @ or the € signs appear to be darker than the legends, is that uv print?

[mr_foggy]

For the people who are against Neue legends, what are your specific objections to it?

they ugly.
to me the whole point to GMK sets is they're true Cherry standard. it makes no sense for me to pay the GMK tax for keycaps that don't even look like they're made by GMK.

[Punkypj]

Love the colour, and I actually really like the Neue font.
Really weird int kitting though with no UK r1 keys and none in base either?

[JQ27]

For the people who are against Neue legends, what are your specific objections to it?

The ISO Enter, Numpad Enter and Numpad + look, for no better description. Flaccid.

[meowoofun]

I'm also in favor of original cherry legends, I didn't buy GMK Tribal or HiViz because of legend change.

+1 hiragana sublegends, since your implying it in the name and novelty.

[Punkypj]

Any update on this? Will the int kit be fixed for uk iso?

[unwashed_heathen]

Caps lock novelty looks like a face. I like the colorway, legends, and base kit.

[Zahul]

Rush Rush Rush!

[VoiceOfReason]

I know it's the classic GH move to abandon your IC/GB thread.. but I expected more from someone that's an ambassador for the hobby. 

To try to balance that negativity.. I think this could be a great set, I love the TE-style theme, and the artisan looks awesome.

I look forward to hearing more about it soon.

[IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES]

While there’s some reason to be hopeful about group buys after Prussian blue made it, this is certainly an interesting time. It’s unclear whether the interest is sufficient for a base kit price of ~150$ for USA buyers in the setting of tariffs and a weaker dollar vs euro. I would, but you need 249 more of me, and that’s a moving target right now.

[Zahul]

While there’s some reason to be hopeful about group buys after Prussian blue made it, this is certainly an interesting time. It’s unclear whether the interest is sufficient for a base kit price of ~150$ for USA buyers in the setting of tariffs and a weaker dollar vs euro. I would, but you need 249 more of me, and that’s a moving target right now.

While it's painful for American buyers, 150 euro sets are the norm in Europe. I don't know if this will hit MOQ, but I'm certainly in.

[LMNPI]

Interested and definitely going to buy if this goes GB. Great set!

[tigerali]

Definitely interested

[örange_stone]

HEY, I am a BIG fan of orange, too!

[mvkb]

Let’s go let’s go let’s go!!

[IAmAPeach]

Is there a possibility for orange on white alphas?

[bluntkrayon]

Has this progressed at all? I don't think the original post owner has even bothered checking back in on this lol

[VoiceOfReason]

Has this progressed at all? I don't think the original post owner has even bothered checking back in on this lol

It would be funny, if it wasn't so annoying.

Perhaps OP is in legal discussions with Teenage Engineering, and can't post ATM. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[yuujira]

Small up on this. Very interested in the project. No problems with the neue legends too. No idea what people are talking about, it suits the set's design.

[VXQN]

Man, I could forgive the Neue Legends if the escape icon was either converted to text or made to look less gross somehow.

[CaptainSterling]

I appreciate the feedback everyone. Sorry for just getting back to this. Life has had some heavy ups and downs for me the past few months.

First I'd like to address the Neue Legends. I understand people not loving the aesthetic or look, this was a creative decision I took when designing the set since I like the more clean appearance they offer. This is just a preference thing so I understand if that doesn't align with what some of you like. I also can't adjust the alignment of some of the keys mentioned as that was by design by the legend designer.

Regarding any comments regarding kitting that can all be adjusted and the ones that make the most sense will be added.

Next there hasn't been much progress in terms of a launch date. I'll check in again with the vendors but the big hang up was the whole tariff situation that was potentially going to increase prices on GMK in the US by 10/20% depending where that eventually lands. So that has really caused some logistics issues unfortunately.

Lastly to those of you who enjoy the colors and design of the set, I'm so glad. I put a-lot of work into this one and it's one of my favorite sets I've worked on so far.

I appreciate you all commenting your suggestions and sharing your excitement. I'm most active over on IG or Discord if there is something urgent you'd like to share with me. I'll try my best to check in here weekly when I can. For now I hope we can get this bad boy moving soon. Thanks again for the support, chat soon!

[madmax13]

I'd like to see 1.5u command Icons, if possible.

Great Set, love Neue!