Making your own decals

[Gary]

Ok, first question is will any inkjet printer work or do you need a specific machine?

Second, what is the easiest way to determine scale?

Will transparent decal film be opaque of should I only buy white film?

Is there a product better than another?


I have about a dozen projects I want to do but the one that is making me consider this step is the Polish Parachute team. While I realize in this environment everyone here would not be offended but in order to be more PC I'm going to make the Slobovian Parachute team and I need to create a roundel and such for the team.

Plus, getting decals of obscure countries is hard. I've been asking around about the African sheets and forget it. $40 bucks each and about a year for delivery.  

[kurly]

when you figure it out let me know. ive got a few i need to do as well.

[Hobbes]

Determining scale: in a decent drawing program you can specify the size of an object in mm/inch, these are the dimensions that will be used when printing.
The correct size is a bit harder; you can either try to find the original size, or measure existing decals and use that as a template.  

[david sMiGielski]

Just about any modern inkjet will work. I tend to use Epson Stylus inkjets because that's what we have at home. The trick, I've found, is to print your final copy (on the decal paper) using the maximum quality setting (in the printer preferences menu, I believe).

I wish I had a grand mathematical formula to determine size but I just eyeball it. I print a few on plain white paper on the printer's "draft" mode to save ink.

Printing on clear decal paper does result in semi-transparent colors. Either apply over a bright background or, if you are feeling daring, make a second version on white film and cut out the required areas.

I've use several types of decal stock in the past but am particularly fond of Expert's Choice decal sheets. I always seal the decal with Microscale Liquid Decal Film.

I will post some photos of homemade decals tomorrow.

Hope this helps.

-David

[Gary]

Thanx David, Hobbs and Kurly
Finally got the experts choice decal sheets and the microscale film stuff. Also happened on the testors stuff and the inkjet ink bonder spray. At any rate, I'm pretty excited now and I'm off to make the decals for the Independant Nation of East Lemming, the Quebec Airforce the modern RCN airgroup colours and so on!
Off to find a website with roundes and flags of many nations too!

Cheers
Gary

[noxioux]

Sorry I caught this one late, Gary.  I use some laser decal paper I bought online, which works with any laser printer or photocopier.  It doesn't require any fixer or sprays, etc. . .  The nice thing about using the laser paper, is you can use vector-based graphics, which always give you a nice sharp printing and zero pixelation.  I use either Illustrator or Inkscape for the artwork.

If I'm modifying decals for an existing kit, I usually scan the correct decal sheet, and use that for a scale reference.  That's how I did the stuff on my 1/48 Green Devils Harrier.

David is right about  the transparent colors.  I have had to paint white underneath some of the stuff I've done with the laser paper.  It's too bad ALPS is so stinking expensive, huh?

[cthulhu77]

I am still waiting for the paper to show up...let us know how yours turns out, please !!! (I went with the expertschoice brand also...)

[cthulhu77]

well, I'm applying them this morning...the only thing I can say is:  I really wish I had bought white paper !  It is going to take at least two of the clear versions to get the depth of colour.

[cthulhu77]

Mixed reviews on my end...one thing I really goofed up on, I didn't use the same sealer on the the decal paper as I did on the model after they were applied, so they wrinkled...bummer.  Not horribly (pics this weekend), but I wouldn't enter it in a show or anything.
 Note to self :