There are multiple ways to get fully custom keycaps, and depending on what you want, some are better and cheaper than others.
So if you're looking for a set of keycaps with personalized legends, colors, or even a special profile, you're in the right place.
We've designed and ordered half a dozen sets of fully custom keycaps from different shops, and we're going to put them to the test.
XDA profile, laser-etched ABS keycaps from FKcaps
Let's start with the XDA profile, laser-etched ABS keycaps from FKcaps.
You can choose between different profiles and customize the layout and legends to your liking, including the font, size, and position.
You can even add symbols or load your own SVG file.
For example, I ordered 54 1u keycaps for my Dygma Defy with customized legends and icons to match my unique layout.
In total, that would cost 63 USD, including shipping.
The packaging is pretty simple, but it gets the job done.
On first inspection, they look well-painted, and the laser etching is precise; however, once installed on the keyboard, you notice shadows under the legends.
In many cases, this is because legends are too close to the stem, which projects a shadow. This is especially obvious in the icons, which are too big.
That is on me for not taking the stem into account, but a visual indicator for the stem in the configurator would have been very useful.
Our Head of Product, Manel, pointed out that it would also be best if the legends were aligned to the left by default, as in our laser-etched keycaps, since that's the biggest shadow-free area.
Another thing Manel noticed is that there are multiple injection points and marks on the inside of the keycap, where the legend is supposed to go.
That, and the fact that the ABS used is not specially translucent, adds blurriness to the light.
We use more translucent polycarbonate in our keycaps; there are only injection points at the bottom, and we polish the inside of the keycap to make the light as sharp as possible.
Sound-wise, they are very similar to our laser-etched keycaps.
Nonetheless, this is us getting engineer-picky. They are still a great option if you want custom laser-etched keycaps.
Cherry profile Dye-sub PBT keycaps from Thockfactory
Ok, but what if you want custom colors too? Then it's time to check the Cherry Profile Dye-Sub PBT keycaps from Thockfactory.
These don't have shine-through legends, but aside from the font, size, and position of your legends, you can configure the keycap and legend colors—basically, a blank canvas for your creativity.
Since these are Cherry profile keycaps, I ordered one set in Qwerty for my Dygma Raise 2 and one set in my customized Colemak for the Dygma Defy.
One plus is that I was able to order custom keycaps for the Cherry-profile thumbkeys on my Raise 2.
That's 65 USD for the Raise 2 set, 47 USD for the Defy, no thumbkeys, and 10.5 USD for shipping.
The packaging is great too; the container is made of rigid plastic with a translucent lid. Not only are the keycaps well protected, but it's great for storing them.
However, once you inspect them, the walls of the keycaps are only 1.5 mm, which is far less than the 1.8 mm in more premium keycaps, like our PBT sets.
This makes them lighter, and it also affects sound.
They also lack the textured finish you come to expect from PBT keycaps, the colors are a bit dull, and the legends are not especially sharp.
Don't get me wrong, they are ok for their price point; you get what you pay for.
KAM profile Dye-sub PBT keycaps from YuzuKeycaps
If you want something more premium or a different profile, check out Yuzu Keycaps' Dye-sub PBT KAM profile keycaps.
If we were to get only keycaps for the Raise 2, they would cost 66 USD + shipping.
It's also worth pointing out that you can get the keycaps in ANSI and ISO layouts, which is a plus.
And they send you a picture of your keycaps for review before shipping them.
The packaging is nice, although not as nice as the one from Thockfactory.
Despite that, the keycaps are worth the extra cost.
They have a pleasant, warm texture.
They are thick, with 1.8 mm walls, which makes them heavier and sound nicer.
But most importantly, the legends are sharper and the colors more vibrant. It's like they have a higher resolution.
All in all, given the similar price point, and even though Thockfactory has great packaging, I think YuzuKeycaps offers a better value overall.
DES profile UV-printed resin keycaps from 3Dkeycap.com
Ok, but what if you want a full custom set for your Dygma Defy, including the thumbkeys? In that case, you have several options offered by 3Dkeycap.
For example, you can get a full 3D-printed set in any color and material you want, including the thumbkeys, with UV-printed legends.
You can even choose between multiple rare profiles.
Here's a black DES profile resin set with custom legends.
I really like this profile, because it creates a bit of a keywell on the keyboard, making it easier to reach the keys above and below the home row.
Resin is also a good material texture and sound-wise.
It's not perfect, though: the surface area of the number row keys is a bit small to my liking, and the edges are a bit sharp.
Also, UV-printed legends are not as sharp as Dye-sublimation, and they can wear over time.
At the end of the day, it's ink on top of the keycap, while with dye-sublimation, the color is embedded in the plastic.
You can learn more about how keycaps and legends are made in this other video:
Finally, UV-printed resin keycaps are quite expensive. This set costs over 200 USD.
Which is understandable; it's a labor-intensive, niche product. You can't get DES profile keycaps anywhere unless you print them yourself, and custom UV printing is also extremely rare.
A cheaper alternative is to order just the thumbkeys in any color you want; that would cost 30 USD.
Cherry profile UV-printed PBT keycaps
But my favorite option is getting the legends UV-printed on the Dygma Blank PBT Keycaps.
UV printing looks sharper and cleaner on PBT keycaps, and the keycaps themselves are really premium, thick PBT keycaps, which sound great.
We've collaborated with 3Dkeycap to offer you this option.
If you're interested in a customized set, we can check it here.
Acrylic marker on blank Cherry profile PBT keycaps from Dygma
Finally, there's the DIY option, which I personally also love.
You only need one of our blank PBT sets, an acrylic marker and good lettering skills.
I lack the latter, but I still managed to create a decent-looking set that matches my former layout, and of course, they still sound like heaven.
Acrylic markers will wear out over time, but that can also be a good thing.
If you need to make changes to your layout, you can remove the legends with alcohol and paint new ones.
And that's it! That makes 6 ways to get fully custom keycaps.
This is where I'd like to hear from you. Have you ever gotten fully custom keycaps like these? How was your experience? Which one of these are you tempted to try?
Join the discussion on Reddit or Discord and share your thoughts.
See you there 💜
