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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 19:08:58 GMT -7
Do any of you have experience with printable decal sheets? Are they as thin as manufacturer decals? And would it print at photo quality or are the pixels noticable at 1/24? I would like to build a crown vic with LAPD markings.
Any input is appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by Grandpabeast on May 26, 2016 0:53:18 GMT -7
I buy the testers make your own decal kit and print them off using my printer. A coat of clear and I think they are as good as originals. Plus I can change colors using computer
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 4:42:43 GMT -7
I buy the testers make your own decal kit and print them off using my printer. A coat of clear and I think they are as good as originals. Plus I can change colors using computer I'll give the testors kit a try. Thank you! |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 6:23:34 GMT -7
Hey Paul, there's a guy on eBay that make great police decals. I bought some for my city and they look,great. Still haven't used them though. Lol. Let me see if I can find the name.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 6:26:27 GMT -7
Policedecalsanddeals is his name there. If he doesn't have what you're looking for I'm sure if you send him a message he can get them for you.
There is also decal binder sofa you can buy to set the ink in place after you print if you decide to try it yourself.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 11:17:24 GMT -7
Oh wow. Yes, policedecalsanddeal is great! Thanks for the tip. Will get from him and will also experiment with the testors.
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Post by CoyoteCrunch on May 26, 2016 12:06:54 GMT -7
I have learned using the testors sheets, it's easiest to use the clear backing paper, but when applying the clear backing decals, you really need to stick with light colors like white / silver / yellow, etc. Say you use the clear backing paper - when you cut out the decal, and apply to a black car - you cannot see the picture.
If you use the white backing paper, you will need to trim right to the decal picture itself so there will be no white show through on your model - this can be tricky, not impossible, but tricky no less. Say you use the white backing paper - when you cut out the decal, and apply to a black car - you will be able to see the picture, but also white around the edges if not trimmed exactly to the picture
The pro's have ALPS printers, so they can produce the full color, able to apply to any color decals like those that come in kits. |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 20:25:42 GMT -7
I have learned using the testors sheets, it's easiest to use the clear backing paper, but when applying the clear backing decals, you really need to stick with light colors like white / silver / yellow, etc. Say you use the clear backing paper - when you cut out the decal, and apply to a black car - you cannot see the picture.
If you use the white backing paper, you will need to trim right to the decal picture itself so there will be no white show through on your model - this can be tricky, not impossible, but tricky no less. Say you use the white backing paper - when you cut out the decal, and apply to a black car - you will be able to see the picture, but also white around the edges if not trimmed exactly to the picture
The pro's have ALPS printers, so they can produce the full color, able to apply to any color decals like those that come in kits. That's great info, thanks so much! Makes sense about the white vs clear backing - I had no idea there was a choice. How small can a decal be to still be recognizable? Do you think a 1/24 scale Porsche hood emblem would look real? I'm concerned because I read somewhere that the print settings for testors are supposed to be same as for text and not to use photo setting. I will now Google ALPS printers which I assume will be way above budget.  Thanks for explaining the process so well! |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2016 6:22:06 GMT -7
If you're getting badges as small as the Ferrari one, I recommend buying them. For cars like these there are many, many option online that are printed very well. I'd spend the money to make sure they look right. You avoid all the math and printing, etc. just my two cents.
Now if you're going to make custom decals or badges that are not readily available, then take your time and use one sheet to test out how they're coming out.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2016 7:57:40 GMT -7
If you're getting badges as small as the Ferrari one, I recommend buying them. For cars like these there are many, many option online that are printed very well. I'd spend the money to make sure they look right. You avoid all the math and printing, etc. just my two cents. Now if you're going to make custom decals or badges that are not readily available, then take your time and use one sheet to test out how they're coming out. You're right, and I haven't even tried photo etched emblems yet - they probably look better than anything. So of course I looked at Alps printers, lol - I knew there had to be another gadget I could buy. |
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Post by CoyoteCrunch on May 27, 2016 9:31:20 GMT -7
As far as scaling things correctly - all I do is get the picture, put it on a blank word document, then size it several times.
Always test print your pictures. Go into the printer settings and select "draft". This way you do not use all your ink each time you test print.
Try to fill the page with as much stuff as you can get on the testors decal sheet. So as to not waste the whole sheet on just a few items. Once you spray the decal sheet with the decal bonder spray, that's it, your done with that sheet. What I do is try to fill in an area, about the center of the page. Keep adding stuff, then checking with the actual testors decal sheet to make sure everything fits. Then I tape down the corners of the testors sheet to the paper with the test pictures, re-insert into the printer, and change back the settings to print normally.
I have always talked about making up a tutorial, with pictures, of how I do this - I should really get after doing this for everyone. it always sounds worse that it really is, Lol
But really, it's just trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Can be time consuming, but I like it.
I do agree with Ice though, sometimes it is better just to choke down a little extra, and get pro decals made, or get the photo etch you need. A good ALPS printer can run you 3 to 4 grand and even higher. I have always wanted one, but I just cannot justify that kind of a cost for a hobby. |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2016 10:38:36 GMT -7
Try to fill the page with as much stuff as you can get on the testors decal sheet. So as to not waste the whole sheet on just a few items. Once you spray the decal sheet with the decal bonder spray, that's it, your done with that sheet.
Position the image so that it will print near the top of the page. After printing and before spraying, cut off the section of the paper that has the image. Now the rest of the sheet can be printed on again. This tip brought to you by the Acme company.  |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 4:21:54 GMT -7
I HATE DECALS, as i bugger them up every time, BUT, i have used some of Toms, ( COYOTECRUNCH) decals on a special build, i found they worked better than kit decals for me, so he knows what he is doing, that's for sure.. Well worth taking his advice.. and everybody else who is helping out. Nice tutorial too Sidney....  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 17:23:49 GMT -7
Sidney, that was all the help I could have wished for. Thank you. I just tried my first decal and I think it turned out ok.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 17:27:06 GMT -7
As far as scaling things correctly - all I do is get the picture, put it on a blank word document, then size it several times.
Always test print your pictures. Go into the printer settings and select "draft". This way you do not use all your ink each time you test print.
Try to fill the page with as much stuff as you can get on the testors decal sheet. So as to not waste the whole sheet on just a few items. Once you spray the decal sheet with the decal bonder spray, that's it, your done with that sheet. What I do is try to fill in an area, about the center of the page. Keep adding stuff, then checking with the actual testors decal sheet to make sure everything fits. Then I tape down the corners of the testors sheet to the paper with the test pictures, re-insert into the printer, and change back the settings to print normally.
I have always talked about making up a tutorial, with pictures, of how I do this - I should really get after doing this for everyone. it always sounds worse that it really is, Lol
But really, it's just trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Can be time consuming, but I like it.
I do agree with Ice though, sometimes it is better just to choke down a little extra, and get pro decals made, or get the photo etch you need. A good ALPS printer can run you 3 to 4 grand and even higher. I have always wanted one, but I just cannot justify that kind of a cost for a hobby. Solid advice. Followed it and got good first timer results. Thank you very much for sharing, really awesome how much there is to learn in this group. Thank you very much.  |
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Post by CoyoteCrunch on Jun 8, 2016 19:05:48 GMT -7
Glad to help pawling
Those decals look awesome - well done sir, well done!!!
hand-clapping-smiley-emoticon
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2016 14:32:48 GMT -7
Extremely cool! Love that little mailbox. two-thumbs-up-smiley-emoticon
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