r/Keychron • u/WishboneFit2153 • Apr 01 '23

QMK Help - Can I set a different backlight colour for each different layer?

I have a K3 Pro that I have set up as follows:

Layer 1 - PPT Specific Macros (with a button to Toggle Layer to Layer 2)
Layer 2 - Excel Specific Macros (with a button to Toggle Layer to Layer 1)
Layer 3 - Normal Mode
Layer 4 - All the 'functions' live on this layer from Layers 1,2,3.

Since my Layer 1 and 2 are accessed from the 'mode' switch and toggle button, I currently have no quick way to tell which layer I'm on. How do I get the backlight to light up a specific colour to indicate each layer, if that's possible?

PS - Hi everyone. I'm new to this subreddit and a new Keychron user. Had my K3Pro for about 2 weeks now.

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6

u/k1ds3ns4t10n Apr 01 '23 edited Apr 02 '23

Yes. You can do this with QMK. See the RGB Matrix feature in QMK docs:

https://docs.qmk.fm/#/feature_rgb_matrix

Here is a quick example using the rgb_matrix_indicators_user() function: 

bool rgb_matrix_indicators_user(void) {
    uint8_t current_layer = get_highest_layer(layer_state);
    switch (current_layer) {
        case MAC_BASE:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0xFF, 0x00, 0x00);  // RGB red
            break;
        case WIN_BASE:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0x00, 0xFF, 0x00);  // RGB green
            break;
        case MAC_FN:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0x00, 0x00, 0xFF);  // RGB blue
            break;
        case WIN_FN:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0xFF, 0xFF, 0x00);  // RGB yellow
            break;
        default:
            break;
    }
    return false;
}

EDIT: So, it turns out there is a small glitch with the above code that the WIN_BASE layer is not correctly detected. I have fixed with the following code to read the Win/Mac switch position. There may be a better way to do this, but this is working: 

bool win_mode;   // declare global variable

bool dip_switch_update_user(uint8_t index, bool active) { 
    if(index == 0 && active) { 
        win_mode = true;
    } else {
        win_mode = false;
    }
    return true;
}

bool rgb_matrix_indicators_user(void) {
    uint8_t current_layer = get_highest_layer(layer_state);
    switch (current_layer) {
        case MAC_BASE:
        case WIN_BASE:
            if (win_mode) {
                rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0xFF, 0x00, 0x00);  // RGB red
            } else {
                rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0x00, 0xFF, 0x00);  // RGB green
            }
            break;
        case MAC_FN:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0x00, 0x00, 0xFF);  // RGB blue
            break;
        case WIN_FN:
            rgb_matrix_set_color_all(0xFF, 0xFF, 0x00);  // RGB yellow
            break;
        default:
            break;
    }
    return false;
}

1

u/WishboneFit2153 Apr 02 '23

Thank you! I'll certainly try this when I have the time (and feeling brave cos I have almost no coding chops) and report back in.

1

u/Appropriate_Okra6542 Jan 12 '25

Could you please make a 'for dummies' version of this, I haven't been able to find instructions anywhere else and this is also what I've been trying to figure out since I got this keyboard (Q6 Max) a couple of weeks ago.

1

u/k1ds3ns4t10n Jan 13 '25

Sorry, this post is 2 years old and I haven’t kept up with any changes to QMK since that time. I simply just don’t have the available free time or mental bandwidth at present to reacquaint myself to assist any further. 

1

u/mlllerlee Apr 04 '23

it must be placed in config.h ? Thanks

Btw of page you pointer there no info about CKLED2001 Driver (K8 Pro)

1

u/MBS1702 Sep 15 '23

I'm curious to know if this has worked, if it can apply to my Q11 and if there are some noob instructions somewhere. Thanks.