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Not from a company but a member on here? I have exhausted all options for the correct size Pennsylvania railroad decal for my models. I had 1 sheet that I thought would work but they were to short in length. Then I finally get the E8 sheet and the colors are not the same as the other decals plus they are a tad to long in length.
If I provided the length I would need, a color sample of even a sheet with the decals im currently using, and font. Could someone print out a full sheet or 2? I would pay of course.
You have to have the correct printer to do the decals. They can't be done w/an InkJet. You have to print them w/a dry type of printer, don't know what it is called, but I know from experience you can't print a decal on an inkjet unless it has a white backing. Then you have to cut the decal exactly on the outside line of the letters. I have my decals made by a proffessional decal company, except my Graffitti decals & I make those.
Getting the exact size to work is a big job & expensive. Just getting the decal paper & printing it is easy w/the right printer. It's all the other stuff that takes the time.
But, just try it & it may work for you.
Larry
As I recall some of the new decals sheets let you use inkjets. I think you need to dull coat them shortly after they exit the printer. I know what your talking about as the older decal sheets needed lazer jet,,,
In my opinion, laser jet is the better alternative. Inkjet paper, of any kind, tends to be somewhat grainy, and the image definition isn't that great. Then again, I could be wrong about the paper.
As for creating the art, getting the measurements right is a cinch. The real issue is matching the colour... but that can be fixed with a test run on regular paper.
As for the white decals, it's either using white backing, cutting along the edges as mentioned, OR silkscreening... which I've done before.
I agree lazer printers will have crisp sharper edges. and the color you want also depends on the surface color the decal is placed over. the decals tend to be a little transparent. so a bright red or yellow needs to be used over a light colored surface. dark colors dont darken as badly just a tip!....
just an idea - print on photo paper. basically walk into any walgreens and use their photo-stand. will probably tak couple tried to get the right size but the quality can be sufficient perhaps? ( dulcoat later perhaps) or is it to thik?
Anton, photo paper would be fine for things like building signs but way too thick for locomotive decals. You alos can't treat it with something like Solvaset to make it settle down in all the nooks and crannys.
I have an HP 7550 inkjet photo printer that will do up to 1200 dpi. Treating the paper with dullcote right after the ink dries makes reasonably useful decals. I've used a bunch of different decal paper and the cheap Testor's brand seems to do as well as any of the others. The trick is to cut the decal as close to the lettering as possible, since the decal film is much thicker than real decals like Microscale. Dip the decal in water for like 10 seconds and then set it aside for a minute. Another quick dip in water and the decal should slide right off. Because you have no overhanging decal film, have plenty of Solvaset on hand to keep it floating until it's where you want it. I have had a few problems with dark letters running a little so I now spray with two coats of dullcote and that seem to have solved that problem. A color laser printer would, I think, do a better job with things like sharp or rounded edges, since all inkjets tend to fudge on those. I imagine the ink would be a little more resistant to running. As Charles said, the real problem is getting the color right. There are only so many ways to mix colors on a printer and you may have to go through a few sheets a decal paper before you get one that looks good on the actual model. I've done many that looked fine on the decal paper and looked like crap on the model. I can tell you one thing for sure - if you can find any sort of commercial decals that are close, I'd use them for the whole engine. Printing decals is not cheap. I figured it out and, accounting for the decal paper and ink used, each 4x6 sheet costs about $7 on an ink jet.
I just bought 5 sheets of a special transparent decal paper (called waterslide) that requires a person to spray a coat of clear lacquer on it after printing and before dipping in water.
