Can you help?
What exactly do I need to print my own decals?
Equipment, products, etc, etc...
Thanks for your help.

Joe.

Hi Joe,

You need a quality printer and some decal paper. Decal paper comes in clear and white varieties (since most printers can't print white, the white paper is very useful). Also, be sure to get the decal film for the printer you are using: laser or ink-jet. Then it is just about making the graphic you need and printing it. Some seal the printouts with liquid decal film.

Here you go: link

Cheers,
Mario

PS The decals I have been waiting still did not arrive, hence the lack of my emails. Sorry for that.

You can buy a starter kit, from Testors. I'm not sure of a supplier, on your side of the pond.

For years the choice of the few custom home decal makers were Alps printers. Expensive but they produced excellent decals. From what I've heard they're out of business now.

The most important issues are exact scaling and replication, perfect registration, and accurate colors. The 1st two is all about your artwork, and research. the last is both you and your printer. You need to have a reliable and accurate colors to start with, and then your printer needs to be able to reproduce them.

Honestly, if it was that easy to make decals of high quality, everyone would be doing it. It's just not that easy. It's a very time consuming process.

Joel

its quite easy to print your own. the better the printer, the better the outcome of the graphic. big thing to remember, as already mentioned, is clear and the white decal sheets.
Once you have the decals printed, you will need to seal it so that the ink doesnt run once you put it in water. i simply use spray can gloss coat. works just fine for sealing and doesnt give any wierd look or feel.

I have a Dell P713w inkjet printer. Will this do the trick?
And what is the decal paper of choice? What paper is the best on the market?
Thanks again.

Joe.

Print it on regular paper first and see for yourself if the printer is good enough... the graphic will be the same on the decal paper. I always print the stuff on regular paper first to see the scale and how good the print is before going to decal paper printing.

As for the paper I had Microscale stuff. Never had any problems. Perhaps it would be a good thing if you also get the liquid film to seal the decals after printing them.

Mario

I've never owned an ink jet that produced quality I'd consider for a second to make decals.

Lasers give such better fidelity. If I were to print decals I'd buy a laser. They cost more but the ink lasts a couple years for the average person. Not a couple weeks like ink jets these days...