What is a custom layout?
Full control of your layout design, including full CMYK color printing, is possible when you create your own layout file from our layout template files.
Our templates already have our existing preset layouts saved within them, so you will not need to start from scratch. Changing text or fonts is very simple. We also have a selection of existing artwork such as common used icons, shortcuts, and arrows that you can use.
What software is supported?
- Inkscape (Recommended - Download free at inkscape.org)
- Adobe Illustrator
We do not support Photoshop, GIMP, or other non-vector based graphics programs.
How to get started
- Download Inkscape
- Download the template file for your keyboard
- Follow our tutorials to get familiarized with Inkscape
- Upload your completed layout with your keyboard or keycap order
Comments
14 comments
Great article. I will give this a try. 1 question -- if I supply custom layout, will the printed keys allow backlighting (will the text be translucent so that the backlight shines through the text on the keys as it does with the original keys?)
No, the keys will not allow backlighting to shine through the text. The keys for the Code keyboards are made differently than our UV printed keys.
HI guys, I've just fired up a new instance of ubuntu to get started with my custom layout. I'm confused, though, because I was expecting a layer where I could determine the colour of the keycaps. Have I missed something?
Sorry for any confusion. The custom layout file is meant to contain only what you want printed on the keys. The keycap colors themselves are chosen through the online designer tool on the product page.
Can you give the key caps writing on both the side (ninja style) and on top? For example a little pic on top of the key cap and then the actual letter on the side? Thank you!
We are not currently equipped for side/front printing, sorry. Our maximum printable area is the entire key top.
Ok thank you! Also can you make an outline of a basic image on top of the key cap so RGB lighting can come through the outlined image? Thank you :)
We do not have the capability at this time to make or customize backlight-compatible keys. It is something we're working on for the future.
Ok sounds good thank you!
Sorry one more question do you have translucent top key caps or translucent side key caps for sale that I could use? thank you for your time!
Right now we do not carry any translucent keys of any kind, sorry.
Hi there, is there any way to put a key in a non-traditional row? I'm designing a layout that uses all the keys in a 104-key board but I want to have some of the keys in different rows. For example, I'm hoping to have PGDN in R2, PGUP in R3 and Del in R4.
We can accommodate a bit of non traditional placement, please email us beforehand to work it out with our graphic designer and ensure what you want to do is possible within our printing setup.
"We also have a selection of existing artwork such as common used icons, shortcuts, and arrows that you can use." -- where do I find this existing artwork? Is it somewhere in the .svg template file?
EDIT: Disregard, I found it. For those wondering, it's in the .svg file; simply make visible the "Stock Artwork" layer.
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