Custom Misc Prototype

[LadyPecs]

Hello!
I am working on some custom keycaps at the moment. Here is a picture of one, and heres the link to the album, http://imgur.com/a/GOMLP#0  Thanks for looking and any feedback is welcomed, wondering if anyone would want to buy anything like this.

-Will update as I make more.

[absyrd]

Intricate design. Nice work.

Better pics would definitely help, though.

[i3oilermaker]

Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

[DanGWanG]

Nice dude, that looks very clean

[SurgeonKyle]

Man that looks spectacular, I'd buy the hell out of a keycap like that as long as it's not clickclack levels of expensive.

[LadyPecs]

For those who take pictures, what kind of camera are you using?

Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

Unfortunately not at the moment.

[DanGWanG]

I use a point and shoot Canon ELPH300HS.  They retail for around $100 or less during holidays and sales.  My photographs are mostly on my blog, linked in my sig

Keys to get a good picture:  1) Good lighting (get near a window that has sunlight), 2) tripod to hold your camera steady, 3) misc settings:  ISO = 100, White Balace = whatever kind of lighting you are under

[LadyPecs]

Thanks for the tips, I'm going to try that out right now.

[tjcaustin]

For those who take pictures, what kind of camera are you using?

Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

Unfortunately not at the moment.

My cell for the most part, but I also have a kodak superzoom that's not horrible.  I just suck at picture taking.

[LadyPecs]

I use a point and shoot Canon ELPH300HS.  They retail for around $100 or less during holidays and sales.  My photographs are mostly on my blog, linked in my sig

Keys to get a good picture:  1) Good lighting (get near a window that has sunlight), 2) tripod to hold your camera steady, 3) misc settings:  ISO = 100, White Balace = whatever kind of lighting you are under

Thank you, you are a genius. Updated original post with a link to the album with new pictures!

Also, Nice blog! I was literally just on there yesterday, funny coincidence.

[Dgsbllx]

These look good and huge. This guy will dominate keyboards! (in a good way)

[el2k]

Very clean work indeed.

[AGmurdercore]

If it is not a secret i would like to ask you how are you doing these key caps? They look really nice!

[esoomenona]

My kitchen has the best lighting in the house, so my kitchen has become my keyboard workshop... I take pictures with my cell phone.

[esoomenona]

Also, that cap looks pretty cool. Is it related to Samurai Jack or? And it looks like a head on top of a cap. Or is it one piece?

[feng]

Looks fantastic! Wonder what material you're using? I couldn't tell from the pictures, mostly it's some kinds of plastic though.

[iArson]

That cap looks amazing, looking forward to the chance of buying one

[mkawa]

very cool! there is definitely a market for custom keycaps here.

for photos i use a nikon d700 with an old ai'd 55mm/f3.5 and 26.5mm extension ring (for 1:1). basically, i have a fancy macro setup. i typically shoot it handheld during the day with my granite surface plate as a backdrop.

the simplest, cheapest macro camera setup is a cheap ebay stick-on lens kit for one's iphone, however.

[razorsharpgears]

Would definitely buy, keep up the good work!

[jeroplane]

Wow, can't wait to see how it will look with some colour and more detail added. Nice work.

I use my Nikon D5000 with 55-200 kit lens on a tripod about a metre away from the keys and zoomed in (since I don't have a macro lens). I place keycaps on my mouse pad, which has a nice matte black surface with a tiny bit of texture to contrast the smoothness of keys. And the last part of the setup which I realise not many may have is an SB-600 flash gun through a shoot-through umbrella.

[rowdy]

This reminds me a bit of D&D.  I can imagine a row of these, different hemlets etc., across the top of the keyboard.

It would make the keyboard nearly unusable (who would want to risk breaking it?), but would look so cool

[rekanise]

insane workmanship! would be interested if you decide to start selling

[nokcha]

Nice! Really digging the unique design you have there. A knight keycap would be awesome.

[Kabuks]

The detail in that pic is amazing. Nice work!

[brianvoo]

Really nice work, would definitely sell here.

[mistakemistake]

Very cool - are these silicone mold/resin made?

I'm curious about this too. Also, is that one piece or two piece?  Looks cool!

EDIT: OOPS, i didn't see the question answered right after, SORRY!

[LadyPecs]

Wow, there is a lot of replies I need to read! Thank you for the feedback everyone. Just came in to drop by a different keycap.

[baldgye]

holy ****!! O.O thats insane!!

[tjcaustin]

Dang.

[feng]

lol I always call Bro Caps "gundam" instead of Autobots because of its first impression. Now it's the real gundam keycap.

[LadyPecs]

If it is not a secret i would like to ask you how are you doing these key caps? They look really nice!

Its not a secret, I just wanted to make one for myself then after It was completed I thought I'd show it here. I'll show you how I made it, It is quite the simple concept.
Ok first step is to find a bunch of random junk that would be cool and is small enough to fit on a keycap. ( No I did not make all of these I am not that awesome. The knights are some off-brand lego.)

Then you are going to want to grind off the back of whatever you picked at an angle, enough of one so its looking upward. You also need to get a keycap and grind it off so it is flat, don't grind too much off or there wont be anything left on the top, which obviously is not a good thing.


Then all you need to do is attach it onto the keycap using your favorite adhesive.


Then at this point, you can either leave it how it is, or use some paint and make it all one color, or give it a base coat and then paint it however you wish. Drop a clear coat on there if necessary, and there you go. 

[baldgye]

awww you broke the illusion... still kinda cool though

[Sifo]

Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

[eyesmiles]

Regardless of how the illusion was created, that gundam keycap still looks cool.

[LadyPecs]

Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]

[Halverson]

Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]

Smooth-on sells quite a few silicone mold making kits. I think people have had success with it. As for making the replica caps, I can't remember. Possibly epoxy resin?
There should be some threads in "making stuff together" with better info than me.

[LadyPecs]

Or, and then once you have that done, you create a custom mold for it and mass produce them ^^

I was actually looking into how to do this haha. :]

Smooth-on sells quite a few silicone mold making kits. I think people have had success with it. As for making the replica caps, I can't remember. Possibly epoxy resin?
There should be some threads in "making stuff together" with better info than me.

Thanks, I'll give that a look! All of you have been so helpful, I appreciate it.

[Goodfella]

Take 1. and glue it to 2., paint the cap white, and mail it to me, and we will be best internet friendz forever! 



Thanks,
Patrick

[Sifo]

Keep us updated!

[razorsharpgears]

I'll take them all ^_^

[LadyPecs]

I have added more images to the album. Here is what I am currently working on.
This one is pretty sloppy, the holes for the light to pass through the eyes aren't even.