How to make custom decals?

[greymack]

Hey guys wondering if anyone know where or how to make custom decals for models?

[John Pol]

I would also like to know George I think it would open alot of doors for alot of us.

John Pol

[diymirage]

well, the way i go about it (in short)

is to find a image online i like to print

then i use photoshop to manipulate it and once im pleased with it i open it in a excel book

i use the excel to take the guessing work out of sizing the decal

then i have to decide on paper

i get both my clear and white paper of ebay and both have thier up and down sides but once i decide on a paper i load a sheet in my printer and printt it

the next day i shoot a few coats of clear over it and a few days after that the decal is ready to apply

and that, in short, is how i make decals

any more detailed questions will get more detailed awnser

[1320wayne]

George, there are a few different ways to attack this issue. First, there are multiple pc programs you can purchase to help you create your own designs, layout your decal to your liking and then basically follow the process that Elco explained regarding transferring your image(s) to decal film. A lot of those programs are quite pricey. The poor mans route (not to degrade Elco's approach) is basically the same process that Elco described and that is what I have been playing with for a little over a year now. I find an image that I like, save it to my computer and then when I'm ready I open up a Word document (as opposed to Excel) and insert the images there. Once inserted I can resize them to whatever I need or I can even change the overall shape. For instance, the image below shows a series of flame images. After inserting those images into the document I can simply click on the image and do whatever with it. I can change the overall size, I can widen it, narrow it or even stretch or shorten the image. Mind you that with any image if you go too far with the changes you could distort it to the point of it no longer being an appealling sight. Over the past year I have created sponsor decal sheets for racing applications, flames and other graphics for wild paint schemes, images fitting Rat Rod themes and corporate images for Commercial applications.

Just remember this. When it comes to reproducing images if you are doing it for yourself you are most likely o.k.. When, or if, you were to ever start creating for others and charging money for your services you've got to be aware of treading on someones licensing territory.

Edited September 12, 2011 by 1320wayne