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Please vote on the base kit and child deals you want if you are interested!

The Child Deals and base kits have been reformatted so that the base kits now fit a 60% keyboard, and there are two available to choose from - a katakana and hiragana base kit.

Last Updated: 6/7/2015
(5/31/2015) Please fill out this second feedback form to help me finalize the design of this set:
http://goo.gl/forms/HK8okq9C8x
Please fill out this form if you are interested in this set:
http://goo.gl/forms/m5EPUcCtrf
(Please fill out the form only once per person interested)
Form closed for now. Another one will be up later.

Expand to see 3D renders of the design:

Base Kits:
Katakana:

Hiragana:


Description
The Otaku Kiibodo is inspired by Japan.
The aesthetic is clean and minimalist, with a mix of modern and classic styling cues.

This set is geared mostly towards touch typists, since it has katakana characters for the alphanumeric keys. There will however be child deals for non-touch typists, with Latin characters.

Features

• Dye sublimation legends
• PBT material
• Keycap profile: DSA
• Colors: GQN RBD OBB
• Layout based on MS-IME Kana Input

Child Deals
These are currently the child deals that are being considered (please vote for them on Massdrop):

• Beige Tenkeyless Modifiers
• Red Tenkeyless Modifiers
• Numpad
• ISO Kit
• Alternate/Nonstandard Layout Kit (Tsangan)
• Japanese  Flag Home Cluster & Winkeys
• Rising Sun Flag Home Cluster & Winkeys
• Bars and Blanks (Individual)

Mockups and more information about child deals for this set can be viewed here:
http://aaron-hong.com/OtakuKiibodoDSA

The following is the original post, and old design:

I'm not sure about the keyset, but those are fantastic renders!

How did you do them?

Thanks! I found this single-unit keycap model (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52886.0) and imported that into Maya, then made a few more keycap sizes by modifying that and modelled a keyboard case. I made a modified version of that 2D keyset graphic, and applied that as a texture for it. Got a friend to make the materials look a bit nicer. I'm a college student studying computer science with an emphasis on game-industry related skills, so that knowledge definitely came in handy!

Thats pretty awesome

Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 20 May 2015, 23:36:26

I really like the design, but absolutely despise DSA. I would love to see it tweaked some with the colors to make it workable as a dyesublmiation set... which would be a LOT cheaper too since there would be no need to have custom tooling made. The navy on red is possible, but it would need to be switch to red on beige for the main keys since red on navy wouldn't be possible with dyesub. Could put it on Cherry profile then too.

Thanks for the feedback!

I haven't tried DSA caps myself - only own DCS caps, but I like the look of them. I don't really like the look of SA caps and have been just seeing a ton of them recently. I wouldn't be opposed to making them DCS if that's more popular though.

I made a quick mockup of those suggestions you had for making them work with dyesub:

Show Image

I am personally much more fond of the navy keycaps, but I don't think these look bad. Also I haven't actually seen any dyesub keycaps with more color on them. Do you have any picture references? I would be somewhat concerned about the navy being discolored between the different colored materials.

Also this is probably a stupid question - but is it possible to make the keycaps red and dyesub everything but the legend navy? I would imagine it wouldn't be difficult as long as the printing area is enough to cover the keycap.

This I would buy in DCS dyesub. The earlier design for me felt like it was split/conflicting with the boldness of the blue red and the subtlety of the grey. The blue red dyesub has been done but I think the shade of blue navy is would make it impossible in this case. IMSTO's blue red dyesub

I like the revision.  I really like the rising sun on the nav cluster.  Have you considered using kanji in the circles on the function row?  Have you considered using kanji on the modifiers instead of symbols or, if you want to keep the set pure katakana, using furigana instead of symbols?  Although, furigana could make the modifiers look too cluttered if there are a lot of syllables.

I'm a bit confused OP. I was wondering how much you were quoted for the custom molds if we're doing doubleshots. Or have you decided to got with dyesubs?

Thanks for the input guys! The general feedback about the colors and profile is definitely noted! Seems like the other color scheme is more popular so it'll probably be like that. I'll try and create a number of color schemes that people seem to like and have them and some profile choices up on a Google form later, to figure out what's popular from there.

Also, if anyone is interested in working with me more closely on this keyset that would be awesome! Just send me a PM.

Put Homu on Homu button! 

On a serious note, maybe try using some kanji on the home cluster, I think it the whole keyset would look nicer if it was a bit more simplified. Also, the proper nineball is empty(⑨).

I have tried putting legends over the rising sun flag with inverted colors - but they look pretty weird, and I really like the rising sun flag. I looked up what some of the words in the home cluster would look like in kanji and I thought they looked a bit complicated and made the thing look a bit cluttered. I'll try and figure out the translations though and come up with a mockup eventually. Are you talking about the F9 key? Haha! I love the idea, but probably not just that key by itself. Maybe I'll save that idea for another keyset!

I like the revision.  I really like the rising sun on the nav cluster.  Have you considered using kanji in the circles on the function row?  Have you considered using kanji on the modifiers instead of symbols or, if you want to keep the set pure katakana, using furigana instead of symbols?  Although, furigana could make the modifiers look too cluttered if there are a lot of syllables.

I made a quick mockup of the kanji characters in the function row.



I think the idea of having kanji on the modifiers can definitely be cool. As far as keeping the set pure katakana - I don't really care much for that, but just thought katakana looked super cool. I think kanji would be the way to go on the modifiers though since they are more condensed and icon-like, which seems fitting for a modifier key.

It'll take me a much longer time to come up with a mockup of those modifiers, but I will work on it. I know nothing about Japanese, so I'll have to figure out the right translations, and also those kanji characters take a much longer time to vectorize than the katakana ones.

I'm a bit confused OP. I was wondering how much you were quoted for the custom molds if we're doing doubleshots. Or have you decided to got with dyesubs?

I have not gotten a quote on it yet - I assumed I would get one when I submitted to PMK. This is my first keyset - so I honestly don't know exactly what I'm doing. I will reach out to them today regarding this!

I read on the Signature Plastics FAQ that the doubleshot legends are limited to line fonts - and it had a document which showed examples of the ones they offer. I've seen other doubleshot keysets with other fonts such as Deep Space, EVE, and Penumbra - so I was assuming these are custom molds since they aren't using one of those fonts in the document? If anyone could clarify this for me, that would be great!

If it turns out being way too expensive with doubleshots, I will definitely go with dyesubs. Also, I will probably go with dyesubs if we go with the beige alphanumeric keys, and if I'm doing dyesub, I might as well use PBT too - so that will be happening if that's the case.

I would also say that DCS is much better to type on (once again preference).

on almost all Japanese keyboards though, they use english for the home cluster.  If you are wanting to do something with it (I candidly love the flag going over it、and nothing else inhibiting), you can try it with these:

Insert:　イサーと　｜　入れる  (Might work best as i (入) for simplification)
Home: ホム　｜　家　（Literal - residence)　| 帰る　（Literal - return to home.  Might work best as kai (帰) for this instead of residence)
Page Up:　パージ　ウプ　｜　パージ上　(It might look better with just ue (上) if you are looking for kanji.)
Delete: デリート　｜　消す　（Literal again)
End:　エヌード　｜　結果　（Kekka = end （result）.  You could use　終り　（Conclusion)　Instead, but either should be usable.)
Page Down:　パージ　　｜　パージ下 (Once again it might look better with just ****a (下) if you are looking for kanji )

Having Japanese labels on any non alpha keys is pretty rare... and it's looks awfully busy and generally kind of bad on the few I have seen that did. I think ICON style is a far better choice. It's nice and clean, and universal.
I like the changes... which of course since I suggested it... of course being cheaper and more possible to get manufacturer for a sane price, I think it says Japan more than the red on navy.

I contacted Signature Plastics - it looks like I will be going for dyesub for sure on this set, since I'd have to sell about 150 doubleshot sets to make it reasonable, and the doubleshot legends will not be able to fully cover the tops of the keycaps on the home cluster anyway.

I will be working on a few other color schemes that will also be able to facilitate this, so there will be a few more options to consider.

EDIT 2: Here's some mockups of some changes. Changed the colors of the katakana legends. Made the render actually show a different profile. Please let me know what you think about these changes!





I will be changing the colors slightly but in a similar way. I would like the red to be the same except in PBT. The closest good looking yellow color would be more orange. The beige is kind of sterile looking to me in the render - so I would want to make it more creamy in color, I would like it to be roughly the color of old parchment paper.
Also, does anyone know of any keysets with a mix of doubleshot and dyesub keys? Wondering if the would sound or look super inconsistent. I was thinking something like this could be cool:





EDIT 1: Actually - totally forgot that doubleshots would pretty much only be in ABS. So these will be ABS if we do this.

SA please.SA please.DSA sucks 

It seems like from the feedback from here this set won't be DSA, so it might be either DCS or SA.

Having Japanese labels on any non alpha keys is pretty rare... and it's looks awfully busy and generally kind of bad on the few I have seen that did. I think ICON style is a far better choice. It's nice and clean, and universal.
I like the changes... which of course since I suggested it... of course being cheaper and more possible to get manufacturer for a sane price, I think it says Japan more than the red on navy.

I am curious as to what you think about the kanji characters for the function row?

The black legends one above looks insanely better than the red legends, IMO

Those 3D models are awesome! Been trying to learn Blender to be able to make some for my current (possibly future?) keycap sets. Not an easy task, but yours look amazing.

wow if only the red on navy wld work w doubleshots. They look great imo

Like this idea very much and would like to see ISO (even JIS?) options.
Why keep those latin numerals?
What about a numpad (no latin of course...)?
Homing key indicators in various flavors (bump, deep dish) would be nice.
 

I am actually currently working on all of these options. You can see my progress here: http://aaron-hong.com/OtakuKeyboardu/childdeals.html. I'm still working on the numpad sets (that numlock key definitely won't say "locku" haha!), the ISO kit, and all the other kits that have no image. Also, could someone please tell me what keys exactly should be included with the ISO kit? I have never owned an ISO keyboard, so I've been looking it up and have been finding all sorts of things. I'll probably put in the bump homing indicators as you suggested.

I considered removing those Latin numerals. I guess my reason for keeping them is mostly because of my own experience. I do a lot of coding and my main keyboard has blank keycaps. I find it somewhat hard to quickly locate a key on the numrow, especially when looking for a special character, without moving all of my fingers up. Otherwise, I don't really have any problems finding any other keys, so I thought this would help. Perhaps this is just a personal issue. Maybe this will be less of an issue with this set since there would still be katakana characters that I could associate with. I'll consider this. I would love to hear other people's input on this as well!

... Also, could someone please tell me what keys exactly should be included with the ISO kit? I have never owned an ISO keyboard, so I've been looking it up and have been finding all sorts of things. I'll probably put in the bump homing indicators as you suggested.

I think normally accepted ISO keys are from a UK layout because they are most close to the US layout.
Your current http://aaron-hong.com/OtakuKeyboardu/img/childdeals/ISO.png
is missing the AltGr option and have an "extra" numrow key., and is too "western". I think "westen" symbols should not be used at all, even in the numpad, must you use: "# ÷ x - +"?

I considered removing those Latin numerals. I guess my reason for keeping them is mostly because of my own experience. I do a lot of coding and my main keyboard has blank keycaps. I find it somewhat hard to quickly locate a key on the numrow, especially when looking for a special character, without moving all of my fingers up. Otherwise, I don't really have any problems finding any other keys, so I thought this would help. Perhaps this is just a personal issue. Maybe this will be less of an issue with this set since there would still be katakana characters that I could associate with. I'll consider this. I would love to hear other people's input on this as well!

I see this set for a western touch typist and personally prefer no latin characters whatsoever...

Very cool! Great job.

I actually had a similar idea that I never shared because I didn't want to organize a gb or go through the work of finalizing the design lol

Quote from: Nostril on Mon, 25 May 2015, 01:59:46

Thanks for the clarification! Since the alt keys are icons in this set, then I wouldn't think the kit would need a distinct AltGr keycap. Correct me if I'm wrong though. The numlock key is going to change, but I'm still trying to design a nice icon for it. Would you suggest I use "/ * - +" instead then? I like the "÷ x - +" in that they are pretty squarely proportional which makes them fit the look of the other icon-like legends.

The AltGr is just a small detail, for me you can leave them both as Alt.
Better ask an hardcore ISO user how to manage Alt vs AltGr 
About the numpad operation symbols my question is just regarding the symbols being "western", not "÷" vs "/" or "x" vs "*". Would prefer "nice icons" for them...
This new render looks very nice.
Good job.

Hmm, I'm trying to think of what that would look like. I was thinking everything that isn't Japanese characters in this set would be universal icons, and I think "÷ x - +" are pretty universal icons for what they are. I'm wondering what you had in mind?

I had in mind, just japanese characters for every key 

I checked out Google translate, and it looks like Japanese translations for multiply, divide, minus/subtract, plus/add are pretty cluttered, even in Kanji. I think they wouldn't fit well especially on a single-unit keycap. Sorry about this, but I don't think this would work well.

Sorry I kinda submitted the form and thought about this after but is anyone else not a fan on the dot Kanji for the numbers? I personally would prefer the regular Kanji letters like in the numpad kit for the regular set.

Sorry I kinda submitted the form and thought about this after but is anyone else not a fan on the dot Kanji for the numbers? I personally would prefer the regular Kanji letters like in the numpad kit for the regular set.

I personally prefer the circles for the differentiation - especially since they would just be the same legends as the numpad without them. Tried them though, and doesn't look bad without the circles either:



I put up a question for this on the interest form to gather opinions on this. If you have an opinion for or against it, and have already submitted your form, please just go ahead and resubmit another form with neutral opinions toward all the questions (wherever you can, anyway) and note that the form is a resubmission for the circles decision in the additional comments section. That would be highly appreciated!

I'm actually really interested in this.

Are you 100% set on using katakana for the alphas?

I would rather have hiragana, similar to how Japanese keyboards have it. Do you think you could do a mockup for it?

Here's a mockup of the Hiragana:




Here's another mockup of the Katakana. I cleaned up how the characters look and did some research so that it should work fully with actual kana input:


I think I do still like the look of katakana more, but again, I will leave this up to a second poll.

Really like the mod, simple and easy to read. The f1-12 key not that good for me, how about try letter like 一, 二, 三, 四, 五...

Here is another feedback form to help me finalize the design. Please fill this out if you are interested in this set! This form is nice and short.

http://goo.gl/forms/PxUVuei99F

When it comes to child deals feel free to copy any of the Jukebox ones. Nothing groundbreaking there by any means, but I tried to get them at a good price point and concentrate on ones that had interest. Wilba was a huge help to me on those, he and Engicoder both have very good eyes in terms of what to include for child deals.

I wouldn't worry about child deals too much at first though, it would just be a hassle to do more renders every time you changed something. I think the set in general has really started to look exceptional though. Nice to see you taking advice from the community as well