Printing Decals

[Tesla]

Which printer yields the best results for decals: inkjet or laser?

[Aaronw]

I prefer a laser, but the differences are not that big and an inkjet is a smaller investment and slightly smaller learning curve.

Inkjet you need to give it some time to dry before coating or you make get some streaking / smudging, but the printing is straight forward.

Laser you have to tinker with the settings to get a good print on the decal film, but it is a dry ink so less prone to mischief once you learn the setting combination that works for your printer.

[Tesla]

Thanks Aaron...the problem I'm experiencing with my inkjet printer is when I print yellow or orange lettering

and applying the decal on a dark green paint, the green paint seems to "bleed " through.

[John Pol]

Well when you use clear decal paper the ink will be like transparent. Ink jet doing decals work real well on light color cars

[Tesla]

Well when you use clear decal paper the ink will be like transparent. Ink jet doing decals work real well on light color cars

Thanks John

[titino]

Hello, perhaps a reazonable question, is it necessary to apply some varnish - paint on the laser printed decal?

[Dave Van]

Printing decals is a topic that has been posted here many times. I'd look and see if you can find one. 

Short version: High end lasers work best between Laser and Ink Jet. Light color graphics on any dark color will fade. Whit  needs to be printed under colors, only SOME lasers and ALPS can do this. That's a start.

[titino]

Thank you very much for your response. Maybe I wasn't clear enough; I have printed on laser-type decal paper and I would like to know if any type of coverage is necessary before cutting and applying.

[Chris in Berwyn]

As Dave Van alluded to, the laser and inkjet inks are translucent, not solid.  Therefore the paint shows thru. Depending on your artwork, it may be possible to print on white decal paper, but that doesn’t work for a lot of designs. 
 

in the pic, both the d-con and no mouse logos were inkjet printed on white decal paper. 

[TarheelRick]

13 hours ago, titino said:

Thank you very much for your response. Maybe I wasn't clear enough; I have printed on laser-type decal paper and I would like to know if any type of coverage is necessary before cutting and applying.

A couple light coats of clear or the Testor's decal stuff (can't remember the name right now) will definitely be required to protect the inks from dissolving in the water. The best way I have found to do this is to tape all four corners of the decal sheet to a piece of thick cardboard before applying the clear. That should keep the decal sheet from curling up.

[titino]

4 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

A couple light coats of clear or the Testor's decal stuff (can't remember the name right now) will definitely be required to protect the inks from dissolving in the water. The best way I have found to do this is to tape all four corners of the decal sheet to a piece of thick cardboard before applying the clear. That should keep the decal sheet from curling up.

Thank you very much Ricky.

[rattle can man]

as for the clear, unless it is specifically for sealing decals, you might want to test it. the colors may run/ blur depending on the solvents in the paint.  I would stick to several very light mist coats until I get the desired coverage.

[Dave Van]

I don't clear coat my laser decals and never had issues 

Yhx

[KWT]

18 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

A couple light coats of clear or the Testor's decal stuff (can't remember the name right now) will definitely be required to protect the inks from dissolving in the water. The best way I have found to do this is to tape all four corners of the decal sheet to a piece of thick cardboard before applying the clear. That should keep the decal sheet from curling up.

 

18 hours ago, rattle can man said:

as for the clear, unless it is specifically for sealing decals, you might want to test it. the colors may run/ blur depending on the solvents in the paint.  I would stick to several very light mist coats until I get the desired coverage.

Both good answers.

You can seal them with Krylon Crystal Clear

However as Dave was saying, laser printed decals are usually good to go..

You do absolutely seal inkjet decals

But better safe than sorry I reckon.

Edited September 14, 2024 by KWT

[titino]

Hello, thank you very much for your answers, very kind. As I mentioned previously, I purchased laser-printed decals and friends recommended that I apply a coat of protective paint to them. I understood that it was not necessary since the printing mechanism is totally different from inkjet, which is why I asked in this forum. Now I have the same doubts as before, some tell me yes, others say no. I don't know what to do.

[rattle can man]

How about liquid decal film over top of the printed decals? If it works to hold old decals together, might it work to seal the ink?

[titino]

Hi, this will help many people who make their own decals with a laser printer. I have consulted the person who should have done it in the first instance, the manufacturer, and he told me that it is not necessary to apply anything on top, to cut it from the support, moisten it and apply it.

Many thanks to the forum members who participated to clear up my doubts on this subject.

[peteski]

You don't have to seal laser printed decals before dunking them in water (because the toner is  not water-soluble like ink jet ink), but some laser printer toners can flake off or be scratch off the decal paper, so it is good to clear coat the decal after it is applied to the model.

[rattle can man]

Has anyone ever tried artists fixative over decals? It is used over charcoal and pastels to keep them from smudging/ smearing.