Do Dye-Sublimated Legends Fade? – Keycap Printing Explained

When buying mechanical keyboard keycaps, one of the most important considerations is the legend durability. Legends are the printed characters on your keycaps, and depending on the printing method, they can either last a lifetime or fade within months. So, do dye-sublimated legends fade? Let’s take a closer look.

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What is dye-sublimation?

Dye-sublimation (or dye-sub) is a process where dye is heat-transferred into the plastic rather than just printed on top. This method is commonly used on PBT keycaps because the dye bonds deeply into the plastic surface, making the legends highly durable.

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Do dye-sub legends fade?

The short answer: not easily. Dye-sub legends are resistant to wear because the dye penetrates the keycap instead of sitting on the surface. Unlike pad-printed or laser-etched legends, they don’t rub off with normal use. However, after decades of heavy typing and exposure to UV light, very slight fading is possible – but rare.

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Advantages of dye-sub legends

• Durability – much longer-lasting than pad-print or laser
• Crisp designs – legends appear sharp and clear
• Ideal for PBT – commonly paired with premium PBT keycaps
• No surface feel – the legends are smooth, not raised or engraved

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Limitations of dye-sub legends

• Limited to darker legends on lighter keycaps (inverse dye-sub is less common)
• Not as absolutely permanent as doubleshot (though close)
• Color vibrancy may be lower compared to ABS doubleshot caps

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Community insights

On Reddit (r/MechanicalKeyboards), many users describe dye-sublimated legends as “nearly permanent.” Enthusiasts often say they have PBT dye-sub sets lasting 10+ years with no visible fading. On Geekhack, dye-sub is considered one of the most reliable methods, second only to doubleshot for longevity.

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Comparison of legend printing methods

Method	Durability	Appearance	Common use
Pad-print	Poor – fades in months	Basic, cheap	Budget keyboards
Laser-etched	Moderate – can wear or yellow	Sharp at first, wears with time	Backlit gaming keyboards
Dye-sub	Excellent – lasts decades	Sharp, smooth	Premium PBT sets
Doubleshot	Lifetime – legends never fade	Crisp, vibrant	High-end ABS and some PBT

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So, do dye-sub legends fade?

In practice, dye-sublimated legends almost never fade. While doubleshot legends are technically the most permanent, dye-sub offers exceptional durability, especially for PBT keycaps. If you want legends that stay clear and sharp for years, dye-sub is an excellent choice.

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Explore keycaps at RGBKeys

At RGBKeys, we stock a variety of keycaps featuring both dye-sublimated and doubleshot legends.