Thermal Keycaps
A dark, translucent, tech-inspired keycap with colorful gradient accents inspired by heat signature imagery.
Available as an in-stock drop (est. Q2 2026). Scroll down to learn more and find your local retailer to purchase from.
Thermal Keycaps – Overview
Thermal follows X-Ray Keycaps, carrying forward the same translucent-tech idea, only inverted. Where X-Ray is bright and translucent, Thermal shifts to smoky blacks and muted gray translucency, letting light and shadow do the work.
At first glance, it reads almost monochrome — but under directional light, the legends and edges emerge from shadow and reflection, like a thermal image resolving from the dark.
Thermal Accents
Thermal features a novel accent concept inspired by heat-signature imagery.
The base kit includes the Thermal Accent Row — a color gradient across R3 meant to sit as a single “heat line” across the keyboard.
For those who want to go further, the optional Heat Signature accent kit adds blanks across R1–R4 so you can build your own gradient, place it anywhere, or create multiple heat zones.
Manufacturing & Kitting
Thermal keycaps are manufactured by PBTfans, a KBDfans brand. Thermal is available in a base kit, with optional child kits. Below is a collection of renders of the Thermal keycap kits. Click on any image to view it larger.
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Material: ABS Material
Color: Dark gray clear tops with dark gray bases + thermal accent colors
Profile: Cherry Profile
Manufacturing Method: Double-shot injection molding
Manufacturer: KBDfans
Packaging: ABS keycaps tray with designed tray cover
Compatibility: MX-style switches
Available kits: Base kit, Heat Signature accents, Spacebars, 40s, International
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These keycaps are semi-transparent; therefore, colors are sensitive to lighting and viewing angle.
The keycap base is opaque and not intended for use with per-key RGB shine-through lighting.
As with all double-shot injection-molded keycaps, some legends may exhibit subtle manufacturing artifacts under certain lighting conditions. PBTfans Keycap QC Standard: Link
Photo Samples
Below is a collection of photos taken of a prototype set in different lighting conditions and keyboards. Click on any image to view it larger.
Where to Buy
Thermal keycaps will be dropping as an in-stock sale in Q2 2026. KBDfans is the lead global vendor, with regional proxy vendors to be announced soon. Sign up for our newsletter for updates.
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About the Designer
X-Ray keycaps is designed by Matthew Encina from Mod Musings, a design studio based in Los Angeles, California. Matthew is a creative professional with 20 years of experience in design, advertising, and content creation.
Learn more about Matthew Encina
“Thermal is a continuation of my translucent-tech obsession, an inverse of X-Ray that uses light and shadow to reveal detail, like an image slowly resolving under the right exposure.”
— Matthew Encina
Founder & Creative Director at Mod Musings, Inc.
More to come
Mod Musings has designed several keyboard products with more on the way. Sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on social media to stay updated with future releases.