Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Custom keycaps
Create your one-off keycap sets. On-demand keycaps for custom keyboards, based on your own design.
Published January 1, 2018
So, do you dream of a unique keyboard but can't find a matching keyset on the market? You need a unique colorway, a crazy pattern or a fully custom keycap set design featuring an image of your lovely puppy or kitty?
In this regularly updated article I collect companies and services offering you exactly that: custom, on-demand keycap designs – affordably, fast, and with easy-to-use interfaces to customize the keycaps.
Keycap printing technologies
The keycap sets you can get are mostly dye-sublimated keycaps, of course, double-shot molding would be much more difficult and pricey.
In addition, most shops offer Cherry profile keycaps by default, but in the list below you can find XDA, PBS, PFF, or various wild ergonomic 3D-printed keycaps for split keyboards as well.
Manufacturers and services
- Aula Keyboards - from $33 per 75% set. Straightforward functions and interface. Very easy to use if you don't need per-key design. Colors by key groups, up to ten image layers, secondary legends, translucent front legend option, etc. [Use the KBDNEWS coupon code for 5% off!]
- YUZU Keycaps – expensive ($75 per a 75% set) but offers the most options. Beside the default Cherry, more profile like PBS, PFF have been added, with some more in the pipeline. Plenty of layouts, color presets, icons, etc. Fancy interface. An FK keycaps, Keyreative, Max Voltar project.
- 3dkeycap (Canada) specializes in more niche keycap profiles, especially for ergo split keyboards. 3D printed, various materials and colors, unique textures. Mostly blank, but some sets even with legends.
- DIYKeycap (China) – another very affordable service ($40 per 75% set), it offers a KLE-style editor – a bit cumbersome, limited colors? But per-key customization. Dye-sub Cherry PBT.
- custom-keycaps.com (Germany) – XDA profile, 70EUR per 75% set. Per-key customization, lots of options.
- Thockfactory (Germany). Pricier, about $80 for a 75% set. Per-key customization, images, etc.
- FK Custom (FR/MY) – lots of keycap profiles, even low profile (e.g. MBK). One of the pricier services.
- Goblintechkeys (Malaysia) – about $100 per 75% set (-10% with the KBDNEWS coupon code)
Uncommon materials
- Cerakey (China) – ceramic caps, also with crazed or lacquered ceramic finish. [$5 off with the KBDNEWS coupon code.]
- Awekeys (US/China) – metal keycaps. [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code.]
Published on Mon 1st Jan 2018. Featured in KBD #0.
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