"How to" Ques: "One-Off" Decals (White)

[poormansjb]

Seems like there would be an existing thread on how to make custom decals in general but Search didn't turn-up what I had in mind so here goes ...

I have a VERY small project where I need to produce a couple of decals. I'm familiar with several inkjet printer-based products however, I need something in white only ... not an option in any homegrown solution I know of.

I only need two identical decals, each covering an area about 1.5"x2". I've found quite a number of companies that do custom decals, but the minimum order is a least fifty sheets.

Anyone have any alternatives? I have used custom rub-downs from firms like Color-Vu in the past but in this instance I'm looking at some very fine detail which doesn't really lend itself to that technology.

 

[tgreco]

you should be able to buy decal paper and decal set spray from your local hobby shop

essentially it's made for bubblejet printers, and allows you to create whatever you need

I just bought some for a project, but haven't had a chance to get the graphics done

hope that helps

 

[GrenadeKing]

I think he means that he needs something with white ink. No inkjet printer prints in white ink that I know of.

 

[Jedi Dade]

I tihnk there is ink Jet printer paper for decals that is a white backing instead of clear. you could printo out the outline then carefully cut away to leave the "blank" white decal... an alternative would be to get some frisket paper and make a mask and paint it on... just a thought...

Good Luck!

Jedi Dade

 

[ursus43]

The only printer that I know of that actually prints in white is Alps.

 

[Tordoc]

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82277

 

[b26354]

An Alps printer is by far the easiest method - except you need to find one. They're not manufactured any more, the cartridges are getting harder to find, and you need to run windows 98 to drive it since the XP drivers don't support spot colour. Because the cartridges are barcoded and the printer picks the right one to use you can't even fool it into thinking the black cartridge is white (although I suppose you could dismantle the cartridges and load white tape into a black case).

I had this decal made on one which has a white base coat, a 4 colour coat and a clear finish coat.

 

[GrenadeKing]

Anybody ever tried refilling an inkjet cartridge with some other color ink?
You could have say... a "black" cartridge filled with white ink or, gold ink or, what have you (thinned of coarse) and then it would print the black in your design as whatever color you filled it with.
It seems to me like it might be a viable option if you could actualy make it work.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I've heard from guys on SSM that Micro Mark's decal paper is good. I would just use the white paper in the link above.

 

[jah5150]

An Alps printer is by far the easiest method - except you need to find one. They're not manufactured any more, the cartridges are getting harder to find, and you need to run windows 98 to drive it since the XP drivers don't support spot colour. Because the cartridges are barcoded and the printer picks the right one to use you can't even fool it into thinking the black cartridge is white (although I suppose you could dismantle the cartridges and load white tape into a black case).

I had this decal made on one which has a white base coat, a 4 colour coat and a clear finish coat.

Actually, just peel the bar-code label off and swap them. I've done it, and it works.

BTW, any chance of sharing that Gee-Bee nose art? I'd like to model the Gee-Bee from the Rocketeer, too.

 

[poormansjb]

you should be able to buy decal paper and decal set spray from your local hobby shop

Hard to imagine, I know, but there is no "local hobby shop" 'round here. Still, I did spot the product you refer to awhile back when I was out of town and picked-up the various components just in case. But the problem is ...

I think he means that he needs something with white ink. No inkjet printer prints in white ink that I know of.

Precisely. The product I have and the others I've since seen only work in with CMYK.

I tihnk there is ink Jet printer paper for decals that is a white backing instead of clear. you could printo out the outline then carefully cut away to leave the "blank" white decal... an alternative would be to get some frisket paper and make a mask and paint it on... just a thought...

Thanks, but again, i'm dealing with some very fine detail; I haven't laid-out anything yet but it's a company name in what I predict will be 12-14 pt type surrounded by filligree. I may be good with an Exacto and infinitely patient, but I don't think that's gonna happen.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82277

They're not showing an example of what I have in mind; my sense is that the result would be essentially what we're seeing on the Bee Gee: A white backing on a "large" area.

An Alps printer is by far the easiest method - except you need to find one.

Undoubtedly ... but I don't know that I'm prepared to invest that kind of time, energy, or money for a need that currently amounts to about three square inches, hasn't really come-up for me before, and may not again!


I was hoping there was a handy, comparatively low cost solution to this; maybe rub-downs are the answer afterall. I'd prefer decals as I'm sure the image would be crisper; custom rub-downs--at least in my experience--are always kinda fuzzy looking. I always want a finished product to look right but this is such a minor detail that I should probably just compromise and move on.