Decal Printers?

I'm going to buy a printer for printing decals pretty soon and am looking into buying the ALPS MD-1000 or MD-2000. I have a couple questions though, is the ink for these expensive, i would imagine its not since they have single cartridges. What other printers are there that are really good for decals and decals only as its the only thing im going to print. I have a brand new canon printer/scanner inkjet, but i tried printing decals with it and they don't come out that well. I really don't know much on printing decals so any info will be appreciated.

Besides ALPS what kind of other printers are there for decals mainly?
Where can decent decal paper be bought? (Not the testors stuff)?
Do the decals have to be coated with a solution after printed, before being put on?
Is the printer i'm thinking of getting worth buying?

Any info will help, i figured there wasn't a thread on printers so i thought others maybe could benefit from this.

Thanks
Mark

Do the decals have to be coated with a solution after printed, before being put on?

Hi Mark.
Only ink jet printer's decals should be coated with a solution after printed.

The ALPS printed decals do not need coating after printing to be used, they won't run, but I do always coat the after application (be that full clear coat of the model or just on the decals) as they are very easily scratched.

Alps is really the only viable decal printer; you can get great quality from color laser printers but the toner is translucent like injet toners. Fine for white models, but otherwise not very good. Alps is the only one that will print white (and metallics/foils if you get the later versions). The only problem w/Alps is a lack of service and cartridges are getting more $$. They also tend to be rather fragile machines...they break easily. Not for the faint of heart, at all...and really no supply for new machines in the US.

Any ALPS will print any colour (white & metallic) as long as your okay with swapping the labels on the cartridges over and running multi-layer artwork (which you really should be doing anyway).

There is a supply of new ALPS printers, the MD-5500 which is available from the New Zealand based seller, Alps-Supplies.

Also, cartridge prices are still reasonable, only some of the more exotic ones before a bit more pricey but then they aren't used full time.

I looked into Alps printers a good few years ago and I recall Oki were continuing to produce the Alps type printers. Are they no longer going?

Ummm...how much are those alps printers anyway.They are not
sold in the U.S.? Ive often heard of people printing their own
decals but assumed it was just a regular printer. Since were on the topic
could someone please explain the entire thing?

If you're getting an ALPS, we'll trade some metal for decals....;)

If you're getting an ALPS, we'll trade some metal for decals....;)

:thumbsup:


BTW What companies sell decal paper?

A Japanese company called ALPS produced a range of thermal wax printers called Micro Dry printers. They are all discontinued worldwide except for the top of the line, MD-5500, which is still in production (or overstocked?) and currently sold in Japan for 52,290 yen, or at www.alps-supplies.com (http://www.alps-supplies.com/) for NZ$1304 (about US$887).

Micro Dry's ink is water proof, making it ideal for printing custom water-slide decals. Also, some MD printers can let you use white and metallic colors, which is probably the greatest appeal to the modelers, simply because inkjet and laser can't.

If you are picky about decal accuracy, having hard time finding after-market decals, or want to print your own art work, MD printer works well.

>> MidMazzar
I don't exactly remember which model, but the lower numbers like 1000, 1300 and 2000 had limitations in terms of ink compatibility. If you don't print white or metallic, it defeats the purpose of owning an MD printer, so check ane make sure the printer you're buying can take the ink you need. (I'd just go with either 5500 or 5500 and not worry about it.)
If you are only printing decals for yourself, the running cost shouldn't be too bad. I've seen great deals on eBay.

:eek2:$900 bucks are you kidding me? If I had one of those I would open up a shop for you guys. So we could all partake of the alps greatness:iceslolan
Is that what companies like cartograph use?

Is that what companies like cartograph use?
No. They print their decals.

>> MidMazzar
I don't exactly remember which model, but the lower numbers like 1000, 1300 and 2000 had limitations in terms of ink compatibility. If you don't print white or metallic, it defeats the purpose of owning an MD printer, so check ane make sure the printer you're buying can take the ink you need. (I'd just go with either 5500 or 5500 and not worry about it.)
If you are only printing decals for yourself, the running cost shouldn't be too bad. I've seen great deals on eBay.

No, this is wrong, see my post above.

Any ALPS printer can be made to print white or metallic by swapping the codes on the cartridges. All you have to do is design your artwork around that so it takes a little bit more thought.

Here is a very good website explaining the process of ALPS decals printing;

http://www.xs4all.nl/~robdebie/models/decals.htm

Alps printers were also badged by Oki and Citizen.

These printers are very susceptible to bad decal paper. I only ever use Tango Papa or Bel Decal paper.

If you're not concerned with printing whites or metallics then in order of preference Laser then Ink Jet printers do give good results. Ink Jet decals do need coating before use otherwise you get some lovely coloured water when you wet them!

Also, it doesn't matter how flash or expensive your printer is if the graphics you are using are poor.