Custom decals..

Hey all

where can I get some custom decals? I was told
that I can make my own. But wasn't fully explained how. Do I need a certain kind of printer? What about the paper?

Thanks

You can make your own with an ink jet printer or also have them printer at some print shops. The decal paper is available in many places online. Just Google "decal paper". Creating the art has to be done in a graphics program of which there many and some you can find free. I personally use Photoshop but this is probably over kill for many people.

You can also use a laser printer, Black and white, or if you have access to a color laser. There are different decal papers for each type of printer.

The one problem is these printers can't print white. There are some white, rather than clear, decal papers that can sometimes solve this problem. The other choice is to use an Alps printer, which can print white. This is a discontinued printer that is still available from some resellers. It's an expensive option and unless you plan to do a lot of printing is usually too expensive and, since it's not made anymore, can be trouble findind inks and parts.

I use my ink jet and have had great success. Just give the ink a day to dry before spraying the clear sealer on it. You can find many graphics online you can use for your decals.

This is pretty brief, but gives you an idea. There are many tutorials online that will much more detail.

Hello! I not so dealt with for a long time this problem. All told above - is very exact. I printed on HP Color Laser Jet. There is one more big problem. A printer paint very transparent. I had to use a white layer for each picture. Here that has turned out.
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113548008.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113548030.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113826656.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113826679.jpg

You can make your own with an ink jet printer or also have them printer at some print shops. The decal paper is available in many places online. Just Google "decal paper". Creating the art has to be done in a graphics program of which there many and some you can find free. I personally use Photoshop but this is probably over kill for many people.

You can also use a laser printer, Black and white, or if you have access to a color laser. There are different decal papers for each type of printer.

The one problem is these printers can't print white. There are some white, rather than clear, decal papers that can sometimes solve this problem. The other choice is to use an Alps printer, which can print white. This is a discontinued printer that is still available from some resellers. It's an expensive option and unless you plan to do a lot of printing is usually too expensive and, since it's not made anymore, can be trouble findind inks and parts.

I use my ink jet and have had great success. Just give the ink a day to dry before spraying the clear sealer on it. You can find many graphics online you can use for your decals.

This is pretty brief, but gives you an idea. There are many tutorials online that will much more detail.

What clear you use to sealed the decals?
Thanks...
Merry Christams

Hello! I not so dealt with for a long time this problem. All told above - is very exact. I printed on HP Color Laser Jet. There is one more big problem. A printer paint very transparent. I had to use a white layer for each picture. Here that has turned out.
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113548008.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113548030.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113826656.jpg
http://romik505.users.photofile.ru/photo/romik505/96092225/xlarge/113826679.jpg

That must have taken a lot of photoshop work to make that much decals for a race car, not to mention the ones with white layer underneath where you would have a hard time cutting the graphic out from the white decal paper.

must the printer be a laser printer? or just an inkjet Epson should do?
and what kind of paint did you use to seal the color??

I do tons of custom decals for Nascar subjects. The car below is an entire decal wrap.

http://images52.fotki.com/v8/photos/0/1636920/10059987/finisheda-vi.jpg

http://images59.fotki.com/v255/photos/0/1636920/10059987/finishede-vi.jpg

Any kind of inkjet printer will be fine.
White decal paper will give dense, bright decals but you will need a colour background behind text.
Log's, badges, etc work a treat.
Clear coat with spray can Polyurethane varnish as it 'sticks' to the decal paper better than acrylic spray.
I've made my own decals for cars for years.
The Trumpeter GT40 below was done with my own decals.
P.S.... I've since added a 'second layer' of number roundalls to hide the orange stripe beneath.

Roy.
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/P1010052a.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/P1010050.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/P1010049-1.jpg


http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/P1010048.jpg

I've used TS13 gloss clear so far to coat my models with self printed decals, and I never had any problems. Just make sure you cover your decals with liquid decal film or something similar before you apply it to the model.

Now I know who to contact about decals :biggrin:

These were two Mustangs I did for the local phone company CEO & CFO using my artwork and decals.

http://images51.fotki.com/v731/photos/0/1636920/10862306/IMG_2226-vi.jpg

http://images12.fotki.com/v540/photos/0/1636920/10862306/IMG_2227-vi.jpg

http://images57.fotki.com/v81/photos/0/1636920/10862306/IMG_2228-vi.jpg

Gents,
I am mega jealous. I would like to create my own custom decals for a number of different Australian Racing car projects.

I would be most grateful for any information on how to make the artwork please?

Thankyou
Nenad

http://decallab.blogspot.com.es/

It only takes a while when they are ready, i think. I ordered a set, but haven't had a response in months now.

Best regards,
Lesley

Also Carsten at decalprint makes an excellent decal printing service at good prices:

http://www.decalprint.de/