IC/Discussion on beige set

[Muirium]

Ah, Dolch-like colours on squared off spherical caps. Fancy!

I've nagged Matt plenty about SA. He reckons SP just doesn't have the full set of moulds we would need. The 23 Commando group buy seems to have pulled off a fair set, but in ABS instead of PBT unless I'm mistaken.

[matt3o]

yes SA+ABS is still feasible. SA+PBT not so much. (23 commando is ABS).

as much as I like the dolch-like, I still prefer the symbolics color combo

[kwago]

[matt3o]

They are all adorable

I don't like Q of Source Sans. Neutraface maybe is too thin (and a bit too much "architect"). Din Next and District Pro are not bad. Maybe the one that I like the most is Gotham Book.

Anyway if we can go Open Source fonts is better.

[kwago]

Gotham does appeal to me a lot because it is the Helvetica of the contemporary design world, despite have roots that go back several decades. Also, the character width is much like the SP typeface on the DSA Retro and R3/R4 sets, which is a look I think is quite nice.

That said, the free typefaces listed above would work quite well if people are opposed to using the SP type.

Regardless, I am in for at least one set. I am gravitating towards the Hi-Pro clone colors, or the one above it.

[matt3o]

maybe I'm not a big fan of number and punctuation of Gotham book

[douchecanoe]

Neutra and Gotham get my votes, I like how they're "full width" if you could call it that, and not condensed

[kwago]

If forced to go with a more ubiquitous face such as Helvetica or Arial, definitely Helvetica Neue Roman or Light.

[matt3o]

as long as I organize this GB Helvetica won't happen

[Muirium]

Because I asked him about it too much already!

[matt3o]

it's not "retro".

edit: just kidding. we will make a couple of mock ups. If helvetica turns out well, helvetica it is.

[Muirium]

it's not "retro".

Sure it's not…


Edit: hooray!

[kwago]

While old, Helvetica is everywhere and has been for decades, keeping it from becoming retro.

[Muirium]

Exactly. Helvetica isn't dated: it's evergreen. All the more reason I want it all over my keyboard. That and its fantastic geometry and readability.

And because I'm an IBM compulsive these days…

[matt3o]

let me rephrase it.

It's not keyboard-retro. And you know that Muirium

[Muirium]

Can't blame a fellow for advocating what he wants!

It'll take a hell of a good font to beat Helvetica in a fair fight. Bring it on!

[matt3o]

Good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?

okay. Bad news is that SP came out with a $6000 fee to make a full sublimated keyboard. This is very unfortunate since last time we checked this was not the case.

Good news is that we might have PBT spacebar.

[Muirium]

They can do Helvetica but are all out of PBT?
They can do PBT but are all out of Helvetica?
You forgot their contact details but found your missing keys?

[matt3o]

updated

[Muirium]

Ouch. And yay. Such is life.

What size of potential space bar: 6.25?

[matt3o]

I think I'm happier for the spacebar than I'm sad for the $6000. I bet the spacebar is 6.25, yes. I should get a sample soon.

[BimboBB]

for what is this fee?

[matt3o]

for the missing printing heads (when we asked for the Sindarin set this didn't come out so I'm pretty shocked)

[Muirium]

Speaking of the Sindarin set: how goes the keyboard of the elves?

[matt3o]

that's totally on samwisekoi at this point, and as far as I understand now he is overwhelmed at work.

[Broadmonkey]

for the missing printing heads (when we asked for the Sindarin set this didn't come out so I'm pretty shocked)

So that is $6000 for making new legends... on dye sub? or am I understanding something?

[matt3o]

to make the heating head for some of the caps (for the dye sub process)

[matt3o]

I'd say this is a mostly closed discussion. With a starting price of $6000 we would need to sell 400 sets to get a decent pricing.

The only alternative would be to go DCS (PBT+dyesub).

[Vierax]

The Gotham font looks the best to me too. The last colour set is the only beige one but I prefer the others, less yellow, even if it'll look better on my Tipro

to make the heating head for some of the caps (for the dye sub process)

You talk about DSA only or SA too ?

If I understand it well, the heating head depends on the size of the caps : If they have at least the 1, 1.25 and 1.5 unit, and knowing that the few remaining keys are geographically recognisable on a keyboard, is it unthinkable to let them blank and have a partial dye-subbed set ?

[matt3o]

I think they have 1, 1.5 and 2. We miss all 1.25 mods, the shifts and return...