Add-Ons Kit[Additional keys for further compatibility or variety, such as the classic Cherry icons, additional support for HHKB, Windowed Keys (legends are UV-print*), stepped Ctrl icon key, less utilised Shift keys (1.50u, 1u, 2u), CR black spacebars (1.00u x 2, 1.25u x 1, 1.75u x 2, 2.00u x 1, 3.00u x 2, 6.00u x 1), and R3 up arrows.]
Accent Spacebars Kit
[Besides the usual support for split space keyboard layouts, these gold bars include 2 x 1.75c and 2 x 2.00c bars for additional 40s/ortho support.
NorDEUK
Previous Kitting
Media kit cancelled:
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Media Kit
[Viability remains uncertain. Was considering if I should add some further icon keys such as a 1u musical note on R4 to cover a single XT column, and/or more R1 icons such as loop/repeat; shuffle; +/- brightness, etc. I also have depicted the icons in outline line style to be similar to them modifier icon legend design language, but I can switch to opaque in-fill if that’s people’s preference]
Other Kit Ideas
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Kits that did not make it include Katakana sublegend alphas (Japanese variant listed in GMK Shogun topic thread)
Alternate Alphas Kit
[This kit has been scrapped, but I was floating the idea of alternate alphas in WS1 white, for a monochrome style look. Includes extra modifier keys, so that in combination with the base kit, you could theoretically cover 2 keyboards. We both know you have more than one keyboard.]
• DESKMATS •
• RENDERS •
Katana 80 by boba.types
Diaphora by bowlkeyboards x deltakeyco
Werk One by werk.technica
Haus by Hand Engineering
Frog by Geon Works
IRON165 by Smith + Rune
M60-A by Rama Works
Disclaimer: Renders shown are for illustrative purposes and may not perfectly display the actual colours. Please refer to the actual samplephotos below to see the real colours and texture of existing GMK metallic ABS keycaps. Do note that the process of creating metallic ABS involves special powders that are subject to the various injection flow patterns in each cap, creating a unique (and unpredictable) result. There will also be ultimately inherent limits in emulating the lustrous and shiny appearance of metal in plastic.
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• SPECIFICATIONS •
Samples
Quick photo of real-life samples of the metallic gold colourway
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Material: ABS Material
Profile: Cylindrical Cherry Profile
Manufacturing Method: Double shot injection molding
Manufacturer: GMK
Compatibility: MX switches
• Q&A •
Manufacturer choice?More
GMK for now as it has demonstrated samples with metallic ABS already.
Metallic ABS?More
This set aims to use the exciting new metallic ABS material from GMK. A
photo sample of metallic ABS was featured in GMK Kaiju R2 groupbuy - and there also exists other samples of GMK emulating the ‘metallic’ look in other colours to great effect.
As seen in the disclaimer for GMK Kaiju R2 and evident in other
photos of that set, metallic plastic has inherent variables which can lead to
unpredictable flow variations and streaks on the final
result.
However unlike Kaiju R2 Mechakaiju base kit, in this keycap set, the metallic ABS is limited to primarily the legends (except for accents), so this effect should be limited on the overall look. However it is impossible to predict whether it will or won't occur, so it will feature on some legends regardless.
I had initially contemplated doing a completely gold keycap set themed Midas but due to these flow streak artefacts, I felt it’d be better limiting it to primarily the legends and accents for now.
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Given how well the colourway goes with several themes, I’d like to try to offer 2 novelty kits instead of splitting them into separate groupbuy runs. In fact I had other novelties and themes planned, one of which became GMK Kin to Kuro (Kintsugi and Shogun novelties), whereas others i.e. Midas with Grecian sublegends, Dragon King with Cangjie sublegends will come down the line later.
Will there be other kits /layout compatibility?More
Given the current market conditions, and the likely manufacturer pricing structure and MOQ (minimum order quantity) requirements, I’m unsure which kits would reach MOQ.
Hence why the Extension kit is a combination of spacebars, windowed keys and HHKB support. It’s not ideal, but it should hopefully make it more likely to hit MOQ.
International kits will be dependent on support/demand and regional vendors, which is always a challenge.
I will be exploring the possibility of combining GB purchases for the Gold spacebars kit and/or Media kit with GMK Kin to Koru GB to make MOQ easier to reach.
If the media kit gets interest, I can explore a separate GB with these molds in basic WoB/beige.
White & Gold?More
It’s in the works! It’s got an awesome theme/novelties to match it but it’ll stay under wraps for now
• COLLABS •
Artkey Universe in 14th March
• MISC •
• FEEDBACK FORM •
• SOCIALS •
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS •
“'Cause if you're not really here
Then I don't wanna be either
I wanna be next to you
Black and gold, black and gold, black and gold.” Black & Gold by Sam Sparro
Thank you to those who provided help, support or design assistance for this project in some form or another. Special shoutouts in particular to:
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> GMK for the keycap samples
> Nindroid for assistance with the ISO enter Art Deco novelty
> Cutie for initial renders and encouraging feedback
> Mikeydigit for the scene renders
> The designers of the respective keyboards in the renders depicted, and also the teams behind Blender, Inkscape, and KRK (Imperfectlink) whose software was used in the development of the visuals of this project.
> Nopunin10did and Konstantin for also being the original kitting wizards whose advice on previous projects of mine (and others) have led to my foundational knowledge and decision making (any mistakes or peculiarities are mine though)
