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
30 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.
Is it possible to have all Keys in R1 1x1 size, when providing a custom layout?
We cannot easily make all keys R1 1x1, but please email us at info@wasdkeyboards.com and the graphic designer can work with you on the possibilities.
How does "custom case printing" work? Using the downloadable template, can I just include some art in the large empty region above the numpad similar to how its shown in this Instagram post?
That's correct. Just use the template and you can add text/art to the 3 printable areas. To add the case printing to your order, just upload your template file from here: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/printed-keycap-singles/custom-case-print.html
Hello! I found a desing I really like, but it seems it's an old template from this site. 3.3 to be precise, while the newest one is 4.0. It seems like the sizes are slightly different, can I get it printed? Do you allow older templates to be printed? Or do I need to somehow transform it into the new version.
There are slight differences to accommodate our newer printing rig. Inkscape also updated to a new version. If you open the older file in the latest version of Inkscape, it will ask how you want to handle the older file. Select "Scale Elements". This should be enough for us to use the file, but we will contact you if there are any questions or issues.
How do I specify the keymapping?
The unambiguous and printed symbols in an uploaded modified template are one thing, but since those are converted into paths, some symbols (like º and °) will be difficult or impossible to distinguish.
Also, what about desired mappings that aren't printed onto the keys (like AltGr-E => €)?
I'm assuming there is some kind of keymapping being done, due to the existence of the Media Keys and the Dip Switches.
As long as you have all text and symbols converted to paths, they will print as your file shows on your end.
The keyboard's output itself is determined by your OS language settings. The dip switches allow for additional or alternate functions such as the media keys, and mac mode.
i just downloaded the template and i have 3 Questions:
- are the "key grids" a safe area or can a design go Right to the Edge of the keys? are there tolerances that have to be respected? and if so, are These uniform (per set) or can they vary from key to key?
- what is the Minimum width of a line that can be printed?
- would it be possible to have all keys be row2 (flat) keycaps instead of the Default rows?
The key grids are for alignment, but we can print to the edge of the key frames, which represent the edged of the key tops.
We can print in 600+ dpi, we can go thinner than 1pt. 0.5pt is probably the thinnest we'd recommend.
The larger keys are not available in any other row profiles other than their standard. 1x1 keys could be all row2, but we'd need you to email us with your layout and what you need so we can work out the best way to set it all up.
Is there something special I'm supposed to do before I can upload the design? It keeps telling me the file is too big but I'm using the template provided on the site and have deleted all unused layers (except the ones it says not to). Please advise.
If you're using a lot of images, or the images are large/complex ones, the file could be too large at that point. If the images cannot be made smaller, the file can be emailed to us instead of attached to the order. (info@wasdkeyboards.com) Let us know if you still run into any issues or have questions.
Hello,
I have downloaded Inkscape and have designed my custom keyboard, my question is, once you have your image printed on your keyboard, can you still change the keycap colour?
An example to put it into context:
I have a keyboard with completely white caps, If I print an image of a black pattern across several of them, can I change the colour of each individual keycap underneath of the black pattern in the online designer tool before I upload my custom design? and does the pattern itself remains in its original colour?
EDIT: I assume you can also change the colour of keycaps that do not have a design on them? could you please confirm this?
Thank you in advance
Hi,
You can assign the keycap colors any way you like using the online designer tool. Your inkscape fille should just contain everything you want printed. An image can overlay several keys of different colors, but the results may vary. A full-coverage image like a photo will look better with one color for the keycaps, but if it is a black pattern, different keycap colors will work fine. Let us know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Hello,
I really like the design of your "WASD VP3 61-Key Doubleshot ABS GMK Classic Retro Mechanical Keyboard".
Would it be possible that you design a "VP3 62-Key (Intl / ISO)" for me, with this specific look or exists out there an Inkscape - file which I could use to do this by myself?
Thanks in advance,
Jan
https://www.wasdkeyboards.com/wasd-vp3-61-key-doubleshot-abs-gmk-classic-retro-mechanical-keyboard.html
Hi,
Unfortunately we don't have anything like that pre-designed, on the templates or otherwise. However we could likely set it up for you depending on the layout you need. Feel free to email us at info@wasdkeyboards.com with the specific layout you want as well as any other specific design ideas, and we can give you a quote.
Please note that our custom printed keycaps will not exactly match that set, since they are manufactured differently, but we can get the design elements and colors pretty close.
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