Creating decals

I'm curious if there's a way to create wet-transfer decals from, say am image from a digital photograph; you know, crop the image and print out on some material that is effectively a decal sheet. If someone could direct me to a website that offers such a product...

Sorry if it's off-topic; this isn't even for a model car (which always seem to come w/adequate decals for my needs), but I've been given an antique racing bicycle (Drysdale, circa 1958) in need of restoration and while the mechanical aspects are simple enough, I want the finish appearance to match what it once was.

TIA.

Try google search by key words, "ink jet decal," and you'll get tons of links.
There are many ink jet decals, and SuperCal is just one of them.
http://www.paper-paper.com/Supercal-USA.html
You'll probably need the coating spray to protect the ink.

Also, you can use ALPS Micro Dry thermal printer. It prints water proof decal easily, and it can handle white and chrome inks, but it's hard to find in some countries.

Why, thanks for the quick response! That's exactly what I need! I tried a few Google variations, never got the right "hit"...

I think we'll ask a friend of my wife's, who does graphics work on computers, about the intracacies of "flattening" an image photographed from a cylindrical surface (bicycle tubing). This is starting to look "do-able" after all.

hey hirofkd,

I am in HK, and I went to their china homepage and it seems they don't sell the alps thermal printer here. Do they sell Alps printer in Japan computer store or need to contact their sales dept directly? or order from a hobby shop?

please help

Originally posted by hirofkd
Try google search by key words, "ink jet decal," and you'll get tons of links.
There are many ink jet decals, and SuperCal is just one of them.
http://www.paper-paper.com/Supercal-USA.html
You'll probably need the coating spray to protect the ink.

Also, you can use ALPS Micro Dry thermal printer. It prints water proof decal easily, and it can handle white and chrome inks, but it's hard to find in some countries.

Alps printers aren't made anymore..

You can get them overseas as Oki DL-5000 or DL-7000 i think..

You can only buy ALPS printers used anymore...

Either the MD-1000 or the MD-5000

The 1000's go for about $300 on ebay, the 5000's go for about $700.

If broken, Alps printers cost $185 to fix a MD-1000 no matter what the problem is, and 5000's cost even more to fix..

Luckily my MD-1000 is still plugging away... I treat it like a baby, because I want it to last as long as possible.

Only MD-5500 is available directly from ALPS in Japan, and it's available as OEM in some countries.

I have access to one of these ALPS printers... however, I was wondering if their printing on decal film will crack over time, or during polishing. I believe they use some wax-based inks, right?

For any Alps decal related questions..

visit the yahoo group on it:

groups.yahoo.com

then search for alpsdecal.


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