[IC] GMK Modifier Kit

[lordzebu]

Background
Enjoying the classic beige set with the help Wodan's HADapter kit I somehow feel the need to add a bit of colour to this set, but in a way that i.e. solitary cmyk mods cannot provide.

Basic Idea
The idea behind this kit is to add a "touch" of colour to existing classic beige sets. The set should cover basic 60% and 65% layouts in ISO and ANSI. Basically I have two first thoughts on that matter regarding the colour. The first one is a pretty down-to-earth approach with L9 legends on TU1. The second is much louder with the same L9 legends but this time on DY beacause I just can't get this purple out of my head. Overall I think that the dark turquoise/petrol tone would match the restrained appearance of the classic beige alphas better. Also I guess that a few of you already have purple modifiers.

What needs to be done
Feedback on missing keys/legends/layout compatibility
Turquoise or Purple?
Pricing <--- we are here
Finishing timetable

The set as pictured in the mockup below:
MOQ 150: 70,07 €
MOQ 250: 63,05 €



GMK Render


Colourways we voted for

Spoiler:

TU1 + DY accents: 6 votes.


DY + TU2 accents: 0 votes.


AE without accents: 1 vote.


Neither: 3 votes.

Old stuff

Spoiler:

Down-to-earth turquoise


Loud purple


L9 legends (not matching)
Down-to-earth turquoise


Loud purple

GMK colour reference

Spoiler:

[Menuhin]

I love how you approach it:
'Loud' Purple
'Sexy' Red
'Erotisches' Pink / Magenta
'Secretive' Black
'Happy-go-luck' Yellow
'Hippy' Grassy Green
...


I have the opinion that there are two best ways to have modifier color theme match the alphanumeric keys:
1. Reverse color of the alphas, i.e. alpha's base color becomes mod's legend color, and alpha's legend color becomes mod's base color. A variant of it would be having 3 major colors and have them mixed among the alphas, the mods, and the highlighting kits, e.g. GMK Hyperfuse.
e.g.

Spoiler:

2. Matching legend colors, i.e. the mod kits have the same legend color as the alphas.
e.g.
Matching:

Spoiler:

VS
Not matching:

Spoiler:

The legend color of Classic beige and HADapter kit is black CR, but I understand that there are GMK colors that are too dark to have black legend color. I hope for lighter colors, you may consider using black CR as the legend color.

[ideus]

You may want to consider the Mute Set approach, with subtle base colors and the expected black CR legends. Any other legend color does not match the Classic OG Beige. After all, you can pair the base Beige alphas with pretty much any available GMK mods, but that is not the point they should have a match, either with CR legends, or as others have suggested with reverse L9 legends on darker base colors.

[Wodan]

You may want to consider the Mute Set approach, with subtle base colors and the expected black CR legends. Any other legend color does not match the Classic OG Beige.

Very good point ideus!

I love this idea, also mentioned this in the GMK Mute IC - just make a _full_ mod kit for classic beige and serve all markets at once

But I have to support your point here. Classic Beige alphanumerics go much better with BLACK legend caps.

Learned this when I wanted to match them with the CMYK WHITE legends kit vs the CMYK BLACK legends kit.

[Menuhin]

Besides this subtle baby blue base color in this GMK Mute set IC, I also like the toned down red and green colors of mods on the Cherry 9009 keyboards.

[lordzebu]

Thank you for your feedback; the legend colour was what I was mostly unsure about. I made new mockups with the legend colour changed to CR.

The contrast seems a bit low but judging from the win key I got here it is still legible. The luminance of TU1 and DY look like roughly the same to me so the contrast would most likely be similar.

Spoiler:

I would love to use custom colours but if that's still correct the moq for that would amount to 250 sets and for the first GB I'm not keen on handling that many .

[Phenix]

I would prefer to have an light base color + black legends (or an darker base mod color + white legends (that 'loud purple' looks really nice!))

[Geroximo]

Black lettering is the way to go.
I like the turqoise. You could consider going TU2 instead of TU1 for better contrast.

[duynguyenle]

Black lettering is good. I wouldn't mind if either of these colourways makes it to the GB stage!

[lordzebu]

[...]
I like the turqoise. You could consider going TU2 instead of TU1 for better contrast.

I thought about doing that but that colour was used pretty often lately and apart from that TU2 would be really flashy. I like the calmness of TU1.

[need]

Black lettering is the way to go.
I like the turqoise. You could consider going TU2 instead of TU1 for better contrast.

TU2 will just be Cyan mods, which are pretty common already.

[Menuhin]

I think BR1, RO2, and TU1, and 3B, 3C, and 3A fit the 'Classic' impression of Classic Beige.
The 'problem' seems to be BR1, RO2, and TU1 are darker color and black CR legend won't start out.

Otherwise, can it be of some effect gradient effect?
Such as GE1 > AE > N7 > TU1 > V4 > DY
or CV > V2 > V1 > RO2 > RO1 > BR1 to cover the mods of the 6 rows.

Actually I want to see a mod set that comes with some toned-down RGB mods: 3C,3B (or 3A), TU1
or happy RGB mods: MG1, AE, N5 (or TU2)

[Orpheo]

I like the idea of a classic beige mod. But those standard GMK color are too flashy. The 9009 themed is also hyper classic. Break new grounds with custom color!

A muted purple would be great. Or a muted light blue, would be very sexy!

[lordzebu]

Something like this then?

[Orpheo]

I would go even more pastel than those. In the spirit of GMK 9009 but with blue, purple and blue-green yes!
I would be happy to make a photo shop render for you but I'm on vacation in Thailand Hehe.

Pastel color goes really well with OG beige I think. Custom colors are in demand I think. Look at GMK Plum on mass drop, they made a big number even though I don't like the yellowish alphas that much.

[Menuhin]

+1 >> Spirit of GMK 9009
We can still keep one of two muted red caps and muted green caps as accent caps, e.g. for Ctrl / Enter / Esc / Shift, etc.

Spoiler:

These caps look nice, but we can for sure do better than that.

...
but I'm on vacation in Thailand Hehe.
...

!
It's cold and wet and rainy here.

... even though I don't like the yellowish alphas that much...

I think the rationale behind their yellow alphas is that:
"Hey guys! Look how yellow they are, so you will never need to retrobright them in the future."
And imagine natural teeth color like that - so people can drink as much coffee and smoke as much as they want.

[lordzebu]

The pastel tones of 9009 are too pastel for my taste. The red looks like Mortadella by the way (don't go pastel on red as it will almost always look like meat ).

[...] In the spirit of GMK 9009 but with blue, purple and blue-green yes! [...]

I can imagine a base colour like blue-green or purple with a few different coloured accent keys if that's something you would like. I'll probably have something again in a few days.

[LeCado]

I'd be interested for the "Down-to-earth turquoise" set for an ISO OG Cherry set.
I'd also need a spacebar in the OG Cherry Set color for a standard row/Pok3r..

[duynguyenle]

I'd be interested for the "Down-to-earth turquoise" set for an ISO OG Cherry set.
I'd also need a spacebar in the OG Cherry Set color for a standard row/Pok3r..

Sounds like you need to get in on Wodan's HADapter Round 2!

[LeCado]

I'd be interested for the "Down-to-earth turquoise" set for an ISO OG Cherry set.
I'd also need a spacebar in the OG Cherry Set color for a standard row/Pok3r..

Sounds like you need to get in on Wodan's HADapter Round 2!

Oh yeah I definitely need to but I also like this modifier kit..

[Orpheo]

+1 >> Spirit of GMK 9009
We can still keep one of two muted red caps and muted green caps as accent caps, e.g. for Ctrl / Enter / Esc / Shift, etc.

Spoiler:

These caps look nice, but we can for sure do better than that.

...
but I'm on vacation in Thailand Hehe.
...

!
It's cold and wet and rainy here.

... even though I don't like the yellowish alphas that much...

I think the rationale behind their yellow alphas is that:
"Hey guys! Look how yellow they are, so you will never need to retrobright them in the future."
And imagine natural teeth color like that - so people can drink as much coffee and smoke as much as they want.

Hehe, yeah about the yellow, it's kinda weird.

About Bangkok, it's super hot, people are super friendly! So so nice ^^

About the 9009, it is super tasty!



@Lordzebu :
Light blue, light blue green, light purple, man that would be a killer mod set! Make custom color mods a reality please ^^

[Orpheo]

I have a board with the purple, and it is OK but very saturated for regular OG beige. Pastel is very classy me thinks.

[Orpheo]

You may want to consider the Mute Set approach, with subtle base colors and the expected black CR legends. Any other legend color does not match the Classic OG Beige. After all, you can pair the base Beige alphas with pretty much any available GMK mods, but that is not the point they should have a match, either with CR legends, or as others have suggested with reverse L9 legends on darker base colors.

This is super classy man, I want that light blue, and purple, maybe a touch lighter.

[Prelim]

idd, I would also prefer light color mods with OG Classic Beige... that light cyan and purple look great, but does GMK have that colors available?

[lordzebu]

idd, I would also prefer light color mods with OG Classic Beige... that light cyan and purple look great, but does GMK have that colors available?

I haven't contacted them yet regarding the colours; I would suggest that we decide on a basic direction first.

So I thought about the colour accents a bit and came to the conclusion that three different coulours are one too many =). See below. The first one is a more subtle and monochromatic approach wheras the second one provides more colour contrast.

[Phenix]

An general thing: Could you add 1. 5u mods?

[need]

An general thing: Could you add 1. 5u mods?

Aren't they already there?

Personally would prefer it without the accents at all.

[ideus]

I'd prefer a monochromatic set; but, it may not be what you are targeting at, though.

Layout-wise, the sets should include 1u and 1.5u backspace to keep the HHKB layouts, ISO/ANSI covered. Finally, the step caps lock is mandatory. I'd use the down arrow for it, though. I ain't German, but I really like the HAD icon style. Pretty classy.

[Orpheo]

I would suggest space bars too, 6u, 6.25, and 7u in all colors.
Also if you can make a pair of ctrl 1u and 1u alt and 1u altgr, 1800 users would love you!
As for the color, you don't like the blue like Ideus showed? I love personally.

GMK Custom colors is a reality, look at the Plum set from mass drop!

[Phenix]

Damn it, totally didnt saw them

monochromatic is imo best. If accents are in demand maybe add both - standard and highlight?

I second the down arrow Symbol.

spacebars: sounds good!
But which color: HAD base, Mod base, or mod accent?