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Shine-through legends can be divisive among keyboard enthusiasts. Some people love them, while others remain unimpressed. However, there’s no doubt that you should know what shine-through legends are if you’re interested in keyboards. Knowing what they are can help you decide if you want to include them on your keyboard.

What Are Shine-Through Legends?

Shine-through legends are specific type of keyboard legend that is specifically designed to work with per-key RGB LEDs. Unlike a standard keycap, which is opaque all the way through, keycaps with shine-through legends use translucent plastic on the keycaps that allows light to shine through the legends. This can make it easier to read the legends on your keyboard in the dark since the legend’s color is determined by the light underneath it. However, it can also be a bit in your face and some people prefer a more subtle design.

Further still, since shine-through legends are typically achieved through double-shot plastic, the details in the legends are very limited. You can only put as much detail as you can physically press into the plastic without losing sharpness. Thus, fine-line work and intricate designs are typically off the table with shine-through legends. If you want keycaps with cute designs, you’ll likely want to look for dye sublimation keycaps, which can utilize dye and heat to create fine-line and other intricate design styles.