GMK Prussian Blue is a custom keycap set to be manufactured in the Cherry profile by GMK Electronic Design GmbH. These MX-compatible keycaps will be made from ABS plastic and doubleshot legends (with UV front-print where needed). GMK Prussian Blue uses a simple color scheme with a GMK stock white (CP) for its legends and a custom color for the base: RAL 230 20 20 (Preußischblau).

Dates & Vendors

The original Group Buy was canceled on 09 June 2022 for lack of sales. I am exploring alternate options for bringing this set to market.

The Group Buy will start 01 June 2022 and is expected to run through 01 July 2022.

• US – CannonKeys
• UK – Prototypist
• EU – MyKeyboard
• CA – Deskhero
• SEA – iLumkb
• AU – SwitchKeys

Base Kits

GMK Prussian Blue will offer both a Polish/US Base kit and a German base kit.

The Polish / US Base kit will use the modern “Polish Programmers’ Layout,” whose similarity to US ANSI allows it to also serve as the primary base kit. Its modifier key legends will be a mix of icons and English language modifiers. Especially when paired with the Spacebars addon, it provides physical compatibility for very wide array of boards, including a majority of 40% boards as well as rarities like the Vortex Race 3 and Boardwalk.

The German Base kit will follow a German QWERTZ standard layout while also providing a QWERTY option. Its modifier key legends will use a mix of icons and German language modifiers, with most following the style of boards sold by GMK’s own Uniqey storefront. Its physical support for nonstandard keyboard layouts is intentionally more limited to control costs.

Child Kits

The Spacebars kit provides a range of spacebar sizes for split & smaller keyboards. It also includes two 6u spacebar keys: one with a centered stem and one with an off-center stem, allowing it to fit classic Cherry G80-1800 models.

The International Kit provides enough keys to convert the US / Polish base kit into a UK layout or into a more accurate US layout with no sublegends. Likewise, it contains the keys necessary to convert the German base kit into a Swedish, Finnish, Danish, or Norwegian layout.

Background: Prussian Blue

Prussian Blue is a chemical compound originally discovered in Berlin at the turn of the 18th century. It has been used in a variety of settings from art (Japanese woodblock painting) to architecture (a traditional blueprint dye) to medicine (a treatment for heavy metal poisoning).

Prussian Blue was also used for nearly two centuries to dye the military uniforms of the Kingdom of Prussia. The RAL standard and this keyset draw from this darker variant, and GMK Prussian Blue’s kitting takes further inspiration from the history of the Kingdom of Prussia itself.

The Kingdom of Prussia

The Kingdom of Prussia was established circa 1701 and existed until approximately 1918. Its borders changed frequently, with many of its parts split into separate enclaves and exclaves. Though it was ruled by a German-speaking monarchy, its reality was far more diverse, including regions of Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, and Silesians. For most of its existence, however, the majority of Prussian territory lay within the current borders of Germany and Poland.

Board Renders

All renders provided by Manzel.

Renders may contain inaccuracies and should not be considered the final authority on the appearance of the caps.

Bear – Polish / US

Bear 65% split Alice-like keyboard by Jacky.

Mech27 TKL – German

The Mech27 TKL, depicted with a custom color and the German base layout.

Conone

Conone 65 by Kindakeyboards, seen in grey and e-white.

Hibi Artisan

We are offering a color-matched Hibi artisan along with GMK Prussian Blue, using their collectible “pudding” sculpt.

Comparisons

As stated above, GMK Prussian Blue will include one new custom color (RAL 230 20 20). Its legends will be GMK stock white CP. Below is a diagram that compares the estimated RGB hex colors of several prior and upcoming GMK and Signature Plastics keysets with those of GMK Prussian Blue.

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to my amazing wife, who has remained supportive even as my home office fills with more keyboards, keycaps, color standards, and cardboard boxes.
• Thanks to my adorable daughter, who brings me such joy.
• Thanks to Afresh & konstantin for their immense help with getting the ogoneks right.
• Thanks to Manzel for his professionalism and renders.
• Thanks to hunghingdailo, who gifted me with a brilliant logo.

Sources

The following works, which were used to design the deskmat, are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3 (full license text):

• “Central Europe (Brockhaus).svg” by Nobelium @ Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Central_Europe_(Brockhaus).svg)
• “Map-DB-PrussiaProvs-1818.svg” by Valentinian @ Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map-DB-PrussiaProvs-1818.svg)