custom water slide decals

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:01 pm

a long time ago dawnofzion was able to make me a few, but the paper was really thick, im wanting to find a source for proffessional waterslides.
and im not looking for copy styled decals, but rather someone that i can just send the text and font style to and get like 50 made.
anyone know any places. i may have a lead on some old guy that makes waterslides for model airplanes, but he is used to small stuff that are reprints nothing custom, and he may be really pricey.....

soooo, throwdown shortscale, show me what you got!

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:30 pm

does anyone just make blank decal paper? then you could just print that shit out on it right?

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:31 pm

surely this must be able to be done? what did people do back in the 50's when fender started?

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:37 pm

i remember reading somewhere that leo got an hp 3-n-1 copier/printer/fax and he just bought some of this

LAZER TRAN

Narco Martenot · Post by **Narco Martenot** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:51 pm

I want to try that stuff out.

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:53 pm

Find a hobby shop that sells plastic models...A lot of modellers make their own decals and they sell blank waterslide paper. If you have an inkjet printer you need an ink setting solution sprayed over it so that when you dip em in water the ink doesnt run off.

Or this

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:43 am

the problem with the thin paper is that is apparently burns/ gets stuck in the printer. or at least that is what i have heard. i don't want to blow the cash on something that is hit or miss, i would rather get something that looks pro and is problem free from the start.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:44 am

robert(original) wrote:the problem with the thin paper is that is apparently burns/ gets stuck in the printer. or at least that is what i have heard. i don't want to blow the cash on something that is hit or miss, i would rather get something that looks pro and is problem free from the start.

How does mike do it? Can you have him print you some up?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:24 am

I'd talk to mike and benecol. Also, I read this recently, and whilst it might not be exactly what you're after, it might be worth reading all the same.

http://www.littlefishbicycles.com/frame/transfers.html

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:22 pm

my mom just got a super awesome laser color printer. how do i do this??

Post by **Mike** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:09 pm

I just use waterslide decal paper. They make it for both inkjet and laser printers.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:13 pm

Yeah, sorry - I should have chimed in earlier; while I make the designs, Mike does the actual priniting, so he's more where the rubber meets the road, but here's my few bob: Mike uses inkjet waterslide or sticker paper. For headstocks (I'm assuming that's what these are for) you'd probably be better served using waterslide instead of sticker sheets, as this is what the main manufacturers seem to do. Bear in mind that you can't print white, and that your designs, if in colour, may look significantly different because the sheets are semi-transparent even when printed on, and you logo will be going onto a non-white background. I'd be tempted to contact the old guy you mention in your first post: if he's hand painting decals, the number you could fit on a sheet may well counter his costs, and he may well be able to use metallics and so on. I can't give any more concrete answers other than to mess around with a few first. Give me a shout with any grief.

Fredo, having a laser rather than inkjet printer does give you some interesting options; a bloke I work with made some pedals, applied laserjet waterslides, then misted them with meths (could actually have been thinners or white spirit though - I'll check), then the decal itself evaporates, just leaving the inks fixed to the surface. Let me double check before you go crazy with the meths though...

plopswagon · Post by **plopswagon** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:06 pm

one day I will set myself up to screen print these...

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:26 pm

ok so....
i guess my next question is.....
how thick are the ones that mike uses? like i said before(kinda) i just want to be able to shoot like 3 coats of lacquer over it and consider it done rather than about 50 like the ones i already have.
im really just wanting straight black, nothing fancy.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:34 pm

Yeah, 3 coats would easily be fine.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:39 pm

no shite? ok, well my next question is. shortscale will you help me with this so i don't have to pay like 5 bucks per decal?
benecol, if i sent you the text and font, could you send it to fredo or mike to print?
if you guys would be willing, that would be fucking awsome!

Post by **Mike** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:45 pm

Yeah mate, no worries at all

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:05 pm

hellz yeah. i will get the font, and text and pm it to benecol and then i guess he can send the final size and type to you, is that cool?

Post by **Mike** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:45 pm

Yup, I'll make you a couple of A4 sheets and send them across to you.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:11 pm

Sorry - been out shopping all day. Yup, go ferrit. I am, however, off to my dad's tomorrow morning for the weekend.