help in watershed decals

[chris4q]

I've just made a decal waterslide sheet for a couple 1/32 917's and I think I need somebody who has got an Alps printer because there is white livery. It needs to be sharp and I'll need them soon. Can anybody help here? Moreover, I'll be doing more decal sheets real soon for other unique 1/32 and 1/24 cars. Needless to say, they will be pretty tight. I can send you a photoshop file with layers.

Anyway, thanks for any interest in this area

All the best

[highway]

I can't help in the area of printing them for you, because I'm just starting to experiment with making my own decals at the moment, but I can give you one bit of advice. The white can be printed on a normal printer using a decal paper with a white carrier, that way if you have something like a number gumball, as long as it has a colored border to let you know where the edge is, the edge and number will print and the remaining white will stay white.

I also found a decal paper at my LHS from a place called Evan Designs called HobbyCal decal paper that claims that you can make both white and clear decals from the same paper, but I have not tried it yet. Here's a link for that paper:

http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html

EDIT: I just checked out one of the how to videos at the link above, and the white carrier on this brand of decal paper can be made clear using Canola oil!! WOW!

Edited May 11, 2011 by highway

[MoparWoman Jamie]

I can't help in the area of printing them for you, because I'm just starting to experiment with making my own decals at the moment, but I can give you one bit of advice. The white can be printed on a normal printer using a decal paper with a white carrier, that way if you have something like a number gumball, as long as it has a colored border to let you know where the edge is, the edge and number will print and the remaining white will stay white.

I also found a decal paper at my LHS from a place called Evan Designs called HobbyCal decal paper that claims that you can make both white and clear decals from the same paper, but I have not tried it yet. Here's a link for that paper:

http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html'>http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html

EDIT: I just checked out one of the how to videos at the link above, and the white carrier on this brand of decal paper can be made clear using Canola oil!! WOW!

Evan Design's as I know of is a model train site http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/ that deals with LED's and what not. That is where I got the LEDs at for my friend's semi truck project.

This must be the paper your talking about http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html'>http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html

Edited May 11, 2011 by m0parman

[chris4q]

Thanks guys - I did find this place...

http://www.decalpaper.com/category-s/2.htm

you get 5 white and 5 clear for $11+

I'm going to give it a try and see what happens

[highway]

This must be the paper your talking about http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/decalpaper.html

Yes Jim, that is the paper I was talking about, because it is the EXACT SAME link I posted!!!

[highway]

Thanks guys - I did find this place...

http://www.decalpaper.com/category-s/2.htm

you get 5 white and 5 clear for $11+

I'm going to give it a try and see what happens

You're welcome for what little help I could offer Chris. One other thing to keep in mind when you order the paper, know what kind of printer either you or the person printing the decals have. If you or they have an inkjet printer, you need to make sure you have the inkjet paper, and likewise the same with a laser printer.

[MoparWoman Jamie]

Yes Jim, that is the paper I was talking about, because it is the EXACT SAME link I posted!!!

You know, I just NOW notice that! LOL

oops!

[roadhawg]

The white can be printed on a normal printer using a decal paper with a white carrier, that way if you have something like a number gumball, as long as it has a colored border to let you know where the edge is, the edge and number will print and the remaining white will stay white.

What you are talking about will work ok for something like a roundel or a small sponsor decal, but doesn't do very well for custom lettering. First, printer ink is somewhat translucent, so it's almost impossible to get an exact color match for your border. Second, inkjet black ink isn't really black....it's dark gray, so if you did lettering with a black background on a black surface, it would be very noticable. Trust me.

The best way to do this would be to get your artwork the way you want it and find someone with an Alps printer to print it. I use THIS PLACE, who has very reasonable prices and great service.

Again...the "colored border on white decal paper" is fine for small stuff, but for a major lettering project, you won't be happy. Hope this helps.