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IBM 6112883 Relegendable Keycaps; Need Help

Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 16:10
by Phulax
Hello,

I recently bought an IBM 6112883 and I would like to use the relegendable keycaps, however I have never done such a thing. I have tried fiddling around in Photoshop, but I cannot figure out a good way to make the relegendable keycaps, and ensure that all of them are the same size (when I print them on paper). I have measured the key below the transparent keycap to be roughly 1.10 x 1.10 cm.

Any help would be appreciated.

Image
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Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 16:35
by Muirium
People do insert their own legends, so someone will know.

I’d just try a test range of text sizes, well spaced apart, and see what works best. Same for bold vs. regular (or the myriad of choices in between, if Photoshop will let you). Just make sure you’re using Helvetica! And have some fun with scissors.

Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 18:05
by Chyros
I used a different program, but what I did was first to print a sheet with a whole bunch of squares of different sized (wrote the size inside them), then cut them out, and see which one fits best. Then make all the icons in squares of that size.

Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 18:30
by dokyun
I made a stencil using some backing board, cutting it with an exacto knife until it was small enough to fit. Then i printed out some labels made in Inkscape and cut them to the stencil~

Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 21:18
by snufflecat
I bet there's print-on-demand-stores online where you can buy custom printed and cut pieces for projects like this.

Posted: 06 Sep 2018, 23:05
by Sangdrax
Just use this to make the keys keyboard-layout-editor.com.

Loads of colors and symbols for whatever you please.

Then make sure the 1U internal side stuff is 11mmx11mm when you print it out (any graphic program should show you this, or you can just measure the first print and adjust the print size by the percentage you need to increase or decrease to get to the right size). The second color shade provides a cutting guide. And here's an example of what I did just to show it does work keyboards-f2/1984-ibm-5954339-japanese- ... 19600.html

Posted: 09 Sep 2018, 18:43
by Phulax
Thanks for the suggestions! I have tried using the keyboard-layout-editor and I quite like it. I did a quick test print, and it seemed to work. Unfortunately my printer is quite horrible at printing images. So I'll have to use my university's printers.

Posted: 19 Sep 2018, 02:52
by ErgoMacros
Hi, I haven't tried these, yet, and not sure how close the sizes might be
but Hooleon has some die-cut paper you can print & insert.
https://shop.hooleon.com/collections/relegendable

Anyone have templates for these yet?

Posted: 19 Sep 2018, 10:44
by andrewjoy
Print them on clear plastic ( some lasers can do that) Then it does not matter if they are a bit off.

Posted: 19 Sep 2018, 13:42
by kbdfr
andrewjoy wrote: Print them on clear plastic ( some lasers can do that) Then it does not matter if they are a bit off.
You can buy transparency sheets for overhead projectors specially conceived for all kinds of printers.