Doubleshot vs Dye-Sub Legends: How They Differ

Jan 17, 2026

Legend technique changes how sharp your legends look and how long they last. The two most common methods are doubleshot and dye-sub.

At a glance

MethodHow it worksLookBest with
DoubleshotTwo plastics molded togetherCrisp, high contrastABS and some PBT
Dye-subDye printed into plasticSofter, more naturalPBT

Doubleshot legends

  • Very sharp edges and consistent thickness
  • Can be shine-through for backlit boards
  • Common on ABS sets with strong color contrast

Explore: keycaps.dev/materials/doubleshot and keycaps.dev/styles/shine-through

Dye-sub legends

  • Dye is embedded into the plastic surface
  • Often used on PBT for durability and a clean, matte look
  • Typically not shine-through, so RGB legends look softer

Explore: keycaps.dev/materials/pbt-dye-sub

Which should you pick?

  • Choose doubleshot for crisp legends and bold looks
  • Choose dye-sub for long lasting legends and a subtle aesthetic

Studio tip

Use Studio to compare legend styles quickly:

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