Decals?

[kangaroo]

A lot of models come with water slides but is there a difrence between them and printing my own on clear label paper? It would allow a lot of personalization on custom models.

 

 

 

[gman]

Clear label paper may result in more thickness and a defined edge to your graphics. One advantage to using waterslide decal paper (provided it is compatible with your colour scheme and printer) is a better scale thickness.

There are clear and white decal sheets available for both inkjet and laser printers, and the one to use (if you go that way) will depend on how opaque your printed colours are, and whether you need to incorporate white into the graphic. Neither printer type will print white. While there are some expensive and somewhat obsolete printers that do print white, along with metallics etc, if you plan to print your own graphics without that type of equipment water slide decal film will be the usual route. 

You can experiment with your label paper and see how that turns out for you, but you'll likely want to coat overtop of your graphics with a fixative spray or clear coat if you are using an inkjet printer, so the printed graphics don't wipe off the media when applying or handling.

[NOBLNG]

Here is a good thread on the topic.

 

[Mike 1017]

The UPS store over by has an ALPS printer. The next time I go in there I will talk to them about printing decals

Mike

[peteski]

2 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

The UPS store over by has an ALPS printer. The next time I go in there I will talk to them about printing decals

Mike

Alps Electric is a big company.  The "ALPS" MicroDry printers hobbyists use for decal printing (models MD-5500, MD-5000, MD-1300, MD-1000, MD-2300, MD-2010) are a small consumer-grade printers.  It is also obsolete and long out of production.  Latest drivers for it were made for Windows XP.  I also don't think Alps even makes ink cartridges for it. I'm really surprised that a UPS store would have one of those printers.  I wonder if they have some other ALPS printer model?

[Chariots of Fire]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Alps Electric is a big company.  The "ALPS" MicroDry printers hobbyists use for decal printing (models MD-5500, MD-5000, MD-1300, MD-1000, MD-2300, MD-2010) are a small consumer-grade printers.  It is also obsolete and long out of production.  Latest drivers for it were made for Windows XP.  I also don't think Alps even makes ink cartridges for it. I'm really surprised that a UPS store would have one of those printers.  I wonder if they have some other ALPS printer model?

That's interesting (the UPS part) because you need the images to begin with and if they are not nice and clear, the ALPS will pick up whatever the image is, flaws and all.  The cartridges are available but are sometimes hard to come by, especially the white one for undercoating.  And that is essential because if you print decals on clear film without it the image will not be opaque.  I have not found a driver for much beyond Windows XP and that is one reason why I hold onto the one old computer I have.  The design program as well as the ALPS works well on it.

[Mike 1017]

I am gonna go to UPS store tomorrow and get more info on that ALPS printer. I will let you guys what they say.

Mike