Printing your own decals - white on clear background issues

[Johan_SWE]

I am preparing a decal sheet for a touring car which I intend to print myself or using a company to do it for me.

The only small problem I have is how to make the decals for the drivers name that go on the side windows.
It needs to have the letters printed in white on a clear background.

After reading some I know that printing them on an ALPS printer would probably be the best.
If I use a laser printer approach I would have to print it on a white sheet of decal and cut each letter out, then align them individually on the window... sounds like it might not look that great when ready...

Has anyone any experience with this problem?
All input welcome.
Suggestions for a company in Europe that prints on ALPS is also welcome

[Plumberboy]

http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/

Try one of these kits. You can turn them into a waterslide decal.

[rallymaster]

The only tip to be able to print by myself on a inkjet printer I found and use to escape from this problem is to print the white lettering in a very light grey, just enough to be visible above clear background...
Not the best solution but the only one...

[jaykay640]

There's a supplier in germany that offers decal printing service with ALPS and they also sell the decalpro kits plumberboy posted above:

http://www.druckeronkel.de/index.php?id=469

You could also get dry transfers custom made but for just some name stickers that would be a bit pricey because you normally will get a full A4 shett at least.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Plumberboy

http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/

Try one of these kits. You can turn them into a waterslide decal.

That is extreme overkill for someone who needs driver's names in white.

It's an expensive system to purchase (a good-quality laminating machine isn't cheap), the learning curve is steep, multi-colors can be challenging, and they likely won't be crisp as normal printing.

My suggestion would be to locate a source to custom-print the decals for the builder...somewhere I've seen lists of places that will print on an Alps if you supply the artwork.

Or if only the small white lettering is needed on the window, I think you can still buy dry-transfer lettering in white, just figure out the size needed, buy a sheet, and do it that way.

[UKPonchoMan]

Originally Posted by Johan_SWE

I am preparing a decal sheet for a touring car which I intend to print myself or using a company to do it for me.

The only small problem I have is how to make the decals for the drivers name that go on the side windows.
It needs to have the letters printed in white on a clear background.

After reading some I know that printing them on an ALPS printer would probably be the best.
If I use a laser printer approach I would have to print it on a white sheet of decal and cut each letter out, then align them individually on the window... sounds like it might not look that great when ready...

Has anyone any experience with this problem?
All input welcome.
Suggestions for a company in Europe that prints on ALPS is also welcome

PM me and I'll sort them out for you.

Chris

[Plumberboy]

I suppose the DecalPro kit is expensive but it is cheaper than the price of an Alps printer and it's upkeep. Alps no longer sells printers. I think they are out of business. You would still need a good laser printer or something that will generate a toner image as opposed to an inkjet image. Once you master the DecalPro kit you can make temporary tattoos, make awards or transfer the image to waterslide decal paper. Perhaps you could custom make some items to sell to make some money back for the investment in the kit. I do have a kit and it comes with practice images so you can get used to using it. Also if it's not for you Frank will buy it back! I would like to have a good laser printer myself. I got pretty good at resin casting so I have mostly given up on actually building models. I have a photo etch kit too that I got real cheap but I have not bothered to try to use it. I just don't have the room to set it up. Resin casting equipment took up an entire bedroom.

[hirofkd]

If the font is common, you can try to locate one of those dry transfer letters. You still have to align each letter individually, but the lack of carrier film actually gives a better result on a window part. Typically a sheet has a lot of letters to practice, and if aligning is difficult, you can apply the letters on a clear decal paper, then cut it out.

[Lambo003]

I've run into this problem a few times.

What I ended up doing is printing the text contained within a box that matches the body color on white decal film . . . then trimmed as close to the text as possible.

Works well as long as it's not a metallic color . . .

[da_ashman]

Grab a 6 pack or 12 pack of a nice beer, head to your local sign shop & ask them to cut it out of White vinyl, weed & app tape it for you. This is how its done on the 1:1, although vinyl graphics on model cars look a bit thick despite it being micron thin than a decal, but will solve all your problems & beer is somewhat inexpensive...

[Brandon Miller]

Originally Posted by Plumberboy

http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/

Try one of these kits. You can turn them into a waterslide decal.

I bought one of these and it never worked as described. After weeks of phone conversations with them it never worked. I sent it back.

[subtoneral]

There is a laser white toner that can print opaque white on clear films.
go to
www.atttransfer.com

subtoneral

[Pippin1974]

Take a look of my blog and we can talk if you want!