Help looking for custom Model M keycaps

Green Maned Lion

23 May 2025, 16:09

I started off with Unicomp, because that seemed like the logical place to start. I am sure I was a bit unclear in the beginning of my request, but I started out three weeks ago, and gave them a pretty clear request of what I wanted in the format they asked me for it, looking for a quote on them printing me the attachment labeled Keyboard Layout 2. I also claified in my request what I wanted with the following statement: I want the alphanumeric keycaps printed with the standard English legends in black in the top left corner, the standard Russian language characters in red in the lower right of the keycaps, and the Macintosh Option codes printed in green on the front of the keycap (that is, what the US language would output if I held option and that key).
Key layout 3.jpg
Key layout 3.jpg (428.11 KiB) Viewed 850 times
It was three days before they asked me for a graphic representation, and I admittedly provided a bit unclear perspective of what I wanted, but it took them 8 days (and me starting a second request simply pointing to the first and saying I wanted to get the ball rolling) for them to respond asking for a clarification and me immediately responding with the image I attached as Keyboard Layout 2, which I think is pretty clear. That's the last I've heard from them.

It has since dawned on me that if I am having such a set printed, while I do not communicate in Hebrew nearly as often as I communicate in Russian, I would like to have the Hebrew on there, as well, in blue. Attachment Keyboard Layout 3.
Key layout 3.jpg
Key layout 3.jpg (428.11 KiB) Viewed 850 times
I also specified in my order that it is my preference for as many of the keycaps as possible to be two-piece keys. I don't know how complicated this request is, but the colors I want for the keycaps are standard Unicomp keycap colors (which I highlighted in my ticket) and that the printing colors I'm looking for are the standard black, red, blue, and green offered by them. I would think this is simple, but it would really depend on how exactly they dye sublime legends, I imagine. In anycase, a "I'm sorry, printing this is not within our capability" is a simple response.

Is there anyone else who could handle these requests better? I don't mind ordering from several vendors to complete it if needed.

I find this particularly odd because my communication with Unicomp previously has always been reasonably expedient and helpful.
Attachments
Key layout 2.jpg
Key layout 2.jpg (418.65 KiB) Viewed 850 times

User avatar
Falkenroth

23 May 2025, 17:14

Well I think you're going to need a lot of patience on this order. If it's even possible at all with Unicomp. Most key caps I have received from Unicomp are the single piece variant. Seeing you want a standard color your chances for two piece caps are probably better.

Good luck.

User avatar
hellothere

23 Jun 2025, 04:36

https://www.reddit.com/r/modelm/comment ... ap_sellers.

Unicomp has a set of media keys available for $14. Same price for some Mac-specific caps. There's also a Mac combo for $28.

You'll ~probably~ have to ask Fentek for Russian + Hebrew. I haven't used Fentek, but I know they do more custom caps than Unicomp.

If I order a few keycaps from Unicomp, I can almost guarantee that they'll look bad. Misaligned, fuzzy, extra skinny, no-way-that's-pebble, etc. Full sets usually look OK. Your mileage will vary. I'll also confirm one-piece keycaps, too.

Unicomp generally contacts me in a day or so. Make sure you use the form on their website, rather than just sending them e-mail.

Another option is https://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Sticker ... B077RDFBJS. Not the prettiest option.

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engr

24 Jun 2025, 16:32

A couple of years ago I asked Unicomp for the same thing - English+Hebrew+Russian set, and they told me they could not do a triple language set, only their standard English+Russian in black and blue colors, or English+Hebrew.

Your best bet is to order a Russian-Hebrew-English set from Ellipse:

https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... iece-keys/

He designed it on my request a couple of years ago and it turned out pretty good, although keep in mind that the letters may be a bit small for your liking, and I found later that there is some color variation in the later sets, so the red letters were darker than in the earlier sets: viewtopic.php?p=505760#p505760

If you want any further customization, you will have to pay the setup costs which may be a few hundred USD (if that’s the way you want to proceed, let me know - if it turns out we want the same exact set, we can split the costs between us), but if you are OK with the layout he designed for me, you can just order it on his web site for $69.

User avatar
engr

24 Jun 2025, 16:48

Ah, I missed the front-printed Macintosh part.
Yes, that will definitely be a custom order. Contact Joe (Ellipse) on Deskthority or via his website (ModelFKeyboards.com), I am sure he can make a custom one, but there will likely be a minimum order quantity and some setup costs.

Green Maned Lion

26 Jun 2025, 22:14

Just an aside: I did contact Joe, and ask him, and he told me he could not do a that custom front printing. I did end up ordering a pair of sets of arrow keys in mopar blue to 'complete the look' I'm going for from him, though.

I just finished with Unicomp on Friday; they took my payment; they had me setup the layout of what I wanted on a template for them, but other than them not having green 1.5 keys for my desired Option keys, they told me they can produce exactly what I want. The price was $50 for the setup and $43 a set; I ordered two sets, because I have two such keyboards.

Ellipse

27 Jun 2025, 07:52

As a note, new Model F custom front printing can be done, but there will be a setup cost and MOQ. However, only the keycap colors shown on the project web site can be custom requested. To clarify my email reply, the set is not stocked as it would need to be special ordered from the factory at extra cost and with a MOQ, so I confirmed that it would not be possible to order one set (that may not have been clear in my email).

User avatar
engr

27 Jun 2025, 17:53

Green Maned Lion wrote: 26 Jun 2025, 22:14 I just finished with Unicomp on Friday; they took my payment; they had me setup the layout of what I wanted on a template for them, but other than them not having green 1.5 keys for my desired Option keys, they told me they can produce exactly what I want. The price was $50 for the setup and $43 a set; I ordered two sets, because I have two such keyboards.
Interesting, looks like in the last couple of years they became more open to customization. Did they agree to produce your first layout (Ru+En+He+Mac) or the second one (Ru+En+Mac)?

Green Maned Lion

27 Jun 2025, 20:26

engr wrote: 27 Jun 2025, 17:53 Interesting, looks like in the last couple of years they became more open to customization. Did they agree to produce your first layout (Ru+En+He+Mac) or the second one (Ru+En+Mac)?
Ru+en+he+Mac

Here's the file I sent them for the alpha cluster:
TEMPLATE_UNOM0709_10X_MASTER-R.png
TEMPLATE_UNOM0709_10X_MASTER-R.png (503.99 KiB) Viewed 51 times

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