Marc @ MPC Motorsports Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 This thread is beginning to smell like the ones with the leather upholstery and water-based chrome....
scalenut Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I'm not related to the "andy" in the first post ( I can't even see the first post..lol).. But my tiny little side "hobby/kinda business" is Andy's Alps Decals .I'm a prize sponser in the SMA big spring contest going on. yes I have some guitar decals floating out there on the internet along with a bunch of model rocketry stuff I have 2 machines and I also have a vinyl cutter as the good Dr. Cranky brought up .. vinyl cutters and the alps printer require vector drawings ,,, even if you just want to draw your own decals and have them printed and/or cut it would be very beneficial to learn a vector program rather than spend that valuable time learning photoshop or any of the other raster based programs. since I'm here I will offer to do some decals ... the reason I don't advertise or have a website is, I started mainly to do them for myself and a few friends. It seems like every category is covered by the other decal companys already available ,, and I don't desire to compete with them. sadly that would probably be the only way to make a few bucks back from all the investment I've made. so If someone has something they need that may not be available elsewhere I will be happy to attempt it ... I'm pretty good with drawing up decals. the cost ,, well that depends on how complicated or time consuming the job might be.. I have a regular job like everyone else here...heheh. I just charge what any other company would charge ... If you have something drawn up (in any format) it really helps me get them done and out quickly. In most cases no matter how good the artwork ,,If it's not vector I have to re draw it .( and often have to redraw those too.! ) I'm not in it to make money ( not many alps decal makers are making profit worth bragging about), but I actually like drawing decals and keeping my illustrator chops up. As far as the Alps printers ...they are not available anymore,, not new ones atleast ... and finding a good used one is like a needle in a haystack... also it's like playing the odds if it even works properly,, and doesn't have a pixel or 2 out,, that leave hairline streaks in every decal. as fas as the cartridges ,, they are still being produced for at least the next 4 years... but the cost goes up every other month it seems ,,, even tho there are plenty out there... If anyone needs cartridges for their alps,, shoot me a message and I can direct you to the main suppliers and best prices. I was able to build up a fair supply thru the last few years , buying a batch of colors once a month for a good while (to help ease the pain)..lol sooo if someone needs some decals ,, shoot me a message ,, I'm not working heavy hours at the current time ... any questions about decals ,, printers ,software... ect .... go ahead and post it.I've been around the 'ole decal block a few times by now.
scalenut Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Forgot to add ,, I too am looking forward to the- how this draw decals post,, just covering the software would probably be many pages long.
Scale-Master Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 . I think this one's busted... "Period." Now back to actually making something...
Erik Smith Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 (edited) I think this one's busted... "Period." Now back to actually making something... Weird turn of events. Edited May 21, 2011 by Coyotehybrids
Harry P. Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 If I say anything Gregg will either delete it or complain, so...um..."what Jones said"" Um.... I think you just said something!
funhouse1 Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Cheap-o that I am, I found a way to do inkjet decals with white areas. It does require a little patience and, depending on the decal, a steady hand. All it boils down to is this: print a reversed version of your decal on clear decal paper, clearcoat, and then brush paint the white and lighter colored areas with Testor's flat white. Let dry and then simply apply the decal paint side down. Here's a few I did this way using a ten-year-old 50 dollar HP printer... The Pennzoil decal is from a kit sheet but the Frankenstein image was done using the method described. These decals were done the same way except they were painted with decanted Testor's one-coat Inca gold...didn't even clearcoat 'em.
sjordan2 Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 When we find out how an Epson printer can print white, I will then reveal my proprietary process for realistic chrome paint.
diymirage Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 When we find out how an Epson printer can print white, I will then reveal my proprietary process for realistic waterbased chrome paint.
Harry P. Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Looks like Andy bailed on us. He deleted his posts. Thanks for the terrific tutorial. Do we file this one with the leather interiors and water-based chrome tutorials?
Dr. Cranky Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Wow, I can't believe this went on for four pages and we all still have our sanity. Sanity?
scalenut Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I apologize for not thinking ,,, I will do a proper "ad" in the proper section. got carried away a bit ...sorry.
1320wayne Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 (edited) Cranky, are you talking about a machine to die-cut vinyl? If so, you could only do one-color "decals" (stickers, actually).... the color that the vinyl sheet is. Right??? Wow, this post went all over the place. Since the original theme of the post is lost and I'm chiming in four pages in I simply wanted to respond to one issue. I don't know a lot about home grown decals as I can merely create simplified decals on an inexpensive ink jet printer that suit my needs but I did come across a gentleman on another forum that was posting pictures of his drag builds utilizing vinyl cut decals. They looked great so I inquired about getting some made for my own use. What you see below is primarily vinyl decal. The flames and the side panels (which are multi color one piece decal) are vinyl and the contingencies are all waterslide. I don't remember what the exact thickness was listed at but I can tell you that they are super thin and don't look like stickers at all. You do have to get it right the first time to avoid any issues with screwing up the decal if it has to be moved but other than that went on with little effort. They are even thin enough to burnish down into any contours and they hold that shape. Yeah, a little bit more money than conventional decals but if the decal doesn't exist one may be willing to pay to get what you want, especially if it works. These ran me $35 for the set and I had another set done for a future pro mod build that cost $50 to have done. This is probably not for everyone but I at least wanted to show that vinyl decals do work. I don't know what type of machinery is used to create these so your guess is as good as mine. Edited May 23, 2011 by 1320wayne
Kit Basher Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Those look great! How funny, we start with Snake and end with Snake, and go from bogus to cool!
Evil Appetite Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 This could have been my Holy Grail,but he goes and pulls it? Why would he do that?
roadhawg Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 This could have been my Holy Grail,but he goes and pulls it? Why would he do that? Maybe he wasn't really serious?
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