3 ms·

Show HN: Custom Keylabels for Your Custom Keyboard Layouts

16 points by drekipus 4y ago

Hey HN, This is a bit of a weekend project that I'm currently trying out. When I'm changing the layout of my moonlander, I wish there was a way to change the labels of the keys as well. So I thought about making some label stickers that sit over the key, and after some experimentation I'm pretty happy with the results, however I need a few other "keyboard buddies" to make it economical. So I'm introducing https://kapd.au https://kapd.au as a way for people to download the same template I used, and send it to me to get it printed out. I run in batches of 8 and while atm the prices are a little high, they can come down significantly if I get a few orders and verify the demand first. Let me know what you think and please feel free to send it to any people you know who have custom keyboards and layouts!

chewxy 4y ago
It wasn't immediately obvious that you're selling stickers to stick on keycaps. My brain just read "keylabels" as "keycaps". And you have a picture of a nice set of APL keycaps. I immediately thought I should get one. Then I clicked on the n00b guide before I realised it was a sticker label. Do you only do moonlander keycaps or can they stick on SA blanks? ps it's very nice to see something keyboard related in my local currency
- drekipus 4y ago
  between you and me, I wanted to use the "keylabel" terminology to get away from negative connotations with "stickers" being on your keyboard.. I do moonlander keycaps just as a first-off; they are just stickers, so they could be put on any keycaps. Good mention of the SA blanks though, do you know the (rough) dimensions of them and how many you might need?
  - alexvoda 4y ago
    Aren't SA spherically dished? What are the stickers made of to be flexible in 2 directions simultaneously?
Fnoord 4y ago
My take is as follows: we don't look much at our keyboard while we use it, so the way it looks is not very important. The exception being the moment your learn (learning curve) your layout. What is most important is how it feels. How do the keys feel, how does typing feel. Another thing which is important is if its durable. Which is why I went with a durable, mechanical keyboard and I plan to lube it to make it a bit more silent.
- drekipus 4y ago
  If looks weren't important we wouldn't have so much RGB or different colour/style keycaps. But you're right on feel. These don't feel bad but I want to develop this further into custom printed keycaps. Baby steps. Thanks for the comment!
  - MisterKent 4y ago
    That's conflating aesthetics vs function. Most keyboard enthusiasts don't look at their keyboard for information/help, they may look to enjoy the visual appearance. In this case, most people with custom layouts are fine with default or blank caps. As a Dvorak user, who remaps lots of keys at the os level I don't enjoy having incorrect labels. But I also wouldn't want to shell out 35 bucks everytime I add a remap.
  - Fnoord 4y ago
    True, its a matter of preference. Some people like RGB and colors, I like black and little to no LEDs. I do care about the type of switches. My primary reason for this is my wife does not like noisy mechanical keyboard. But while I'd spend money on such, I would not spend money on custom keys. However, you are right that these do exist, and as such a sticker to create a custom key seems a valid minimal mod. Good luck with your business!
pragmatick 4y ago
I don't think I'd trust myself to properly align them on my keys.
- drekipus 4y ago
  Interesting, thanks for the comment. Would you be less concerned if I showed you a bit of a trick in how to do it?
e-clinton 4y ago
Congrats! Offer to make free keylabels for popular YouTube keyboard enthusiast… if one of them reviews, you may find yourself with a ton of orders.
mckirk 4y ago
That's a cool idea! But that font on the example pictures... I'm not sure what it is exactly, but the 'Comic Sansness' really bothered me.
- drekipus 4y ago
  Yah I didn't really think that through. A lot of people don't like comic sans. I was thinking "just technical test print" rather than "test print + potential promo" I think I'll redesign a nice looking set from the ground up that's both aesthetically pleasing and useful for me and just tank the printing cost again. I'll record the process and put it on YouTube to show how easy it is, but I'm not great at video directing..
ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago
Are the labels higher quality or different in some way from something I could print myself with a 30$ sticker printer?
- drekipus 4y ago
  much higher quality, also fit for size so you don't have to cut out each of the stickers yourself.
cdaringe 4y ago
Ive been wanting to print labels for the front of my caps, which could be printed with uniform width. Anyone do that successfully and enjoy it?

16 points by drekipus 4y ago

chewxy 4y ago

It wasn't immediately obvious that you're selling stickers to stick on keycaps. My brain just read "keylabels" as "keycaps". And you have a picture of a nice set of APL keycaps. I immediately thought I should get one. Then I clicked on the n00b guide before I realised it was a sticker label. Do you only do moonlander keycaps or can they stick on SA blanks? ps it's very nice to see something keyboard related in my local currency

drekipus 4y ago
between you and me, I wanted to use the "keylabel" terminology to get away from negative connotations with "stickers" being on your keyboard.. I do moonlander keycaps just as a first-off; they are just stickers, so they could be put on any keycaps. Good mention of the SA blanks though, do you know the (rough) dimensions of them and how many you might need?
- alexvoda 4y ago
  Aren't SA spherically dished? What are the stickers made of to be flexible in 2 directions simultaneously?

Fnoord 4y ago

My take is as follows: we don't look much at our keyboard while we use it, so the way it looks is not very important. The exception being the moment your learn (learning curve) your layout. What is most important is how it feels. How do the keys feel, how does typing feel. Another thing which is important is if its durable. Which is why I went with a durable, mechanical keyboard and I plan to lube it to make it a bit more silent.

drekipus 4y ago
If looks weren't important we wouldn't have so much RGB or different colour/style keycaps. But you're right on feel. These don't feel bad but I want to develop this further into custom printed keycaps. Baby steps. Thanks for the comment!
- MisterKent 4y ago
  That's conflating aesthetics vs function. Most keyboard enthusiasts don't look at their keyboard for information/help, they may look to enjoy the visual appearance. In this case, most people with custom layouts are fine with default or blank caps. As a Dvorak user, who remaps lots of keys at the os level I don't enjoy having incorrect labels. But I also wouldn't want to shell out 35 bucks everytime I add a remap.
- Fnoord 4y ago
  True, its a matter of preference. Some people like RGB and colors, I like black and little to no LEDs. I do care about the type of switches. My primary reason for this is my wife does not like noisy mechanical keyboard. But while I'd spend money on such, I would not spend money on custom keys. However, you are right that these do exist, and as such a sticker to create a custom key seems a valid minimal mod. Good luck with your business!

pragmatick 4y ago

I don't think I'd trust myself to properly align them on my keys.

drekipus 4y ago
Interesting, thanks for the comment. Would you be less concerned if I showed you a bit of a trick in how to do it?

e-clinton 4y ago

Congrats! Offer to make free keylabels for popular YouTube keyboard enthusiast… if one of them reviews, you may find yourself with a ton of orders.

mckirk 4y ago

That's a cool idea! But that font on the example pictures... I'm not sure what it is exactly, but the 'Comic Sansness' really bothered me.

drekipus 4y ago
Yah I didn't really think that through. A lot of people don't like comic sans. I was thinking "just technical test print" rather than "test print + potential promo" I think I'll redesign a nice looking set from the ground up that's both aesthetically pleasing and useful for me and just tank the printing cost again. I'll record the process and put it on YouTube to show how easy it is, but I'm not great at video directing..

ad404b8a372f2b9 4y ago

Are the labels higher quality or different in some way from something I could print myself with a 30$ sticker printer?

drekipus 4y ago
much higher quality, also fit for size so you don't have to cut out each of the stickers yourself.

cdaringe 4y ago

Ive been wanting to print labels for the front of my caps, which could be printed with uniform width. Anyone do that successfully and enjoy it?