Keith Marks decals,need to be coated?

[GoodbuildNY]

Hello all, I tried searching the site including the way that’s been discussed on here before using google & bing ( site:modelcarsmag.com ) so I apologize if this has been answered before. Do Keith Marks decals need to be coated or do they come ready to use?

[Curt]

They come ready to use, but be careful as they are very thin and must be handled gently being more prone to tearing than kit decals.  They look fantastic when applied, though.  You probably already know that like other aftermarket decals they have to be trimmed closely to the artwork because the carrier film covers the whole sheet.

[GoodbuildNY]

2 hours ago, Curt said:

They come ready to use, but be careful as they are very thin and must be handled gently being more prone to tearing than kit decals.  They look fantastic when applied, though.  You probably already know that like other aftermarket decals they have to be trimmed closely to the artwork because the carrier film covers the whole sheet.

Thank you so much Curt for the reply. I’ve used other aftermarket brands before but never Keith’s. I just ordered some and wanted to make sure I handled them properly. Have a merry Christmas 

[Can-Con]

I always clearcoat them after applying to the car. 

I found out the hard way that there's no way to clean a paint smudge off of them if left bare.

[GoodbuildNY]

57 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

I always clearcoat them after applying to the car. 

I found out the hard way that there's no way to clean a paint smudge off of them if left bare.

Great point 

[cobraman]

I bought and used a set for a Mustang Mach 1 and yes, they are very thin. However they are well done and very nice.

[peteski]

I think those are printed on Alps printer.I
If that is the case, Alps used a waxy ink (sort of similar to wax crayons).  It will rub off the decal paper fairly easily, so it should be clear coated.  I'm surprised that Keith does not include any sort of instructions or hints with the decals. When I sell my Alps-printed decals I include a set of instructions on how to deal with them.