shartli Does it still do a COLOR print normally or does it invert light for dark because you inverted white for black?
Does it still do a COLOR print normally or does it invert light for dark because you inverted white for black?
The printer does not know that it has a white cartridge instead of black. If you're printing an image that contains black pixels these would obviously be replaced by white, the result being whatever it is. I didn't try and this is not the purpose of this pretty expensive experiment. All I wanted was a way to print white and that's what I have now.
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
Since white toner would print "white" on clear decal paper, there would be no need to worry about color balance or matching background colors using this approach. Since the background color would show through the clear portions of the decal, there is no need to try to match the background color on the decal. Yes, you might run into some color accuracy problems if you are trying to print white AND another color lettering on a single clear background decal, but a little experimentation should solve such issues.
I would not try to create multi-color or contrasting background decals using the expensive white toner. It would be far less expensive to create such decals using white background decal paper in an inkjet or laser printer with standard ink/toner cartridges installed.
Hornblower
shartli MANY Kudos to you sir. Questions: 1) You have a *COLOR* laser? if yes... 2) Obviously it works in black and white but has it adjusted for the fact that black is now white on multi color printing? IE would dark blue now be light blue? IE something like the UP shield...
MANY Kudos to you sir. Questions:
1) You have a *COLOR* laser? if yes...
2) Obviously it works in black and white but has it adjusted for the fact that black is now white on multi color printing? IE would dark blue now be light blue? IE something like the UP shield...
Yes, it's a color laser and I replaced the black cartridge. The printer doesn't know that it's printing white. The file I'm sending to the printer has black text.
How well my project worked is for you to decide. Standards of LION are not all that rigid.
For these cars the wntire sides were printed on lable paper and then applied to the cars.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
SeeYou190 This is exciting. . Did you simply sibstitute the white toner for the black in the printer? . Have you tested any decal setting solutions on the decal? . -Kevin .
This is exciting.
.
Did you simply sibstitute the white toner for the black in the printer?
Have you tested any decal setting solutions on the decal?
-Kevin
Yes and yes !
Living the dream.
Hello all,
WOW!!!
Looks great!
Thanks for the update!!
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I've had the toner cartridge sitting on my desk for weeks but had nothing to put a decal on. So for this test I had to go and buy an undecorated engine. Here's the first test:
I took the picture with the decal still wet. To me it looks promising. The G&AM logo is 12 point, the road number is 10 point. Don't forget this is a N scale engine!
Now I have to learn how to work with decals in a professional way but at least we know the toner works fine.
Yes; the laser printers that can handle the white toner aren't cheap; the company that is promoting the white ghost offer toner/printer packages that make an refurbished ALPS printer look like a good deal...
Any update on this?
Will this product print other colors correctly as they are substituting white (CMYW) for the black? (CMYK)
OTOH maybe do white only first pass then use another printer for all other colors on a normal CMYK printer. CMYW printers are very pricey.
Thanks Steve. I sprayed the decal paper with clear gloss last night and it worked nicely. I could sense the stiffness in the film, but it still slid off just fine. Thanks again!
Mike
USMCtrainman I just printed out decals from a lazer jet onto decal paper I bought about 10 years ago and never used. I tested the decals on a similar piece of painted metal ( I am restoring a 1948 Flyer Royal Blue that I repainted) and the decal slid off easily enough, but if I touched it ever so slightly (i did use sol-va-set) the color seems to peel off on a few of the letters, underneith the film. Anything I can do to combat this? Just don't touch it, after its set, I know is one, but I sometimes need to make minor adjustments. I was thinking I could paint a clear gloss coat over the decal paper before before cutting out the decals? Would this work?
I just printed out decals from a lazer jet onto decal paper I bought about 10 years ago and never used. I tested the decals on a similar piece of painted metal ( I am restoring a 1948 Flyer Royal Blue that I repainted) and the decal slid off easily enough, but if I touched it ever so slightly (i did use sol-va-set) the color seems to peel off on a few of the letters, underneith the film. Anything I can do to combat this? Just don't touch it, after its set, I know is one, but I sometimes need to make minor adjustments. I was thinking I could paint a clear gloss coat over the decal paper before before cutting out the decals? Would this work?
I typically use Testor's Dullcote to protect the surface of decals I've printed out. Glosscote would probably work too. Either will make the decal less flexible, though.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Good point!
Love to see the outcome. Keep us "posted."
hornblower Steven Otte In theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it. You'd waste an awful lot of white decal paper before you got the color close enough. I have developed a way to match the background color to the model without wasting a lot of decal paper. I first create a row of small boxes along the top edge of my layout page. I then choose a color that looks as close to the model on my computer screen and assign that color to the middle box. I then assign successively darker shades of the original color to the boxes left of center. Next, I assign successively lighter shades of the original color to the boxes right of center. I then print out these color boxes on the intended decal paper (do not use regular paper) and compare the printed color boxes to the model. If one of the boxes is a match, name that color (such as Accurail Santa Fe Boxcar Red) and save it for future decal use. If the model color falls somewhere between two boxes, assign these two colors to the far left and far right boxes on the original layout page. Then fill in the middle boxes with various color shades between the two close matches and print again. I usually find the right color in one of these first two printings and I only waste about a half inch of decal paper. Any remaining mismatch can easily be hidden with a little weathering.
Steven Otte In theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it. You'd waste an awful lot of white decal paper before you got the color close enough.
I have developed a way to match the background color to the model without wasting a lot of decal paper. I first create a row of small boxes along the top edge of my layout page. I then choose a color that looks as close to the model on my computer screen and assign that color to the middle box. I then assign successively darker shades of the original color to the boxes left of center. Next, I assign successively lighter shades of the original color to the boxes right of center. I then print out these color boxes on the intended decal paper (do not use regular paper) and compare the printed color boxes to the model. If one of the boxes is a match, name that color (such as Accurail Santa Fe Boxcar Red) and save it for future decal use. If the model color falls somewhere between two boxes, assign these two colors to the far left and far right boxes on the original layout page. Then fill in the middle boxes with various color shades between the two close matches and print again. I usually find the right color in one of these first two printings and I only waste about a half inch of decal paper. Any remaining mismatch can easily be hidden with a little weathering.
That's brilliant! And considering how heavily I weather my rolling stock a tiny bit of mismatch would never show.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I did something like that a few years ago on a r/c tank. I matched the green as close as i could with white lettering. was ablew to get pretty close to teh the right green.
Modeling on the cheap
Steven OtteHornblower, if you can come up with a how-to article about your process, you should submit it to MR.
Steve
I'll see what I can work up.
Steven OtteIn theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background
I never thought about this enough...but... I like slogans printed in white lettering on contrasting colors. Like a black ribbon on a mineral red car with the words "Rocky Mountain Road" in white. This would be easy using your method.
Might need to give this a try.
Hornblower!
What a brilliant use of the technology!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hornblower, if you can come up with a how-to article about your process, you should submit it to MR.
Steven OtteIn theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it. You'd waste an awful lot of white decal paper before you got the color close enough.
Like so many modelers I am a do-it-yourselfer by nature—however—when it comes to some things, dentirstry, heart surgery, flying multi-engine jet aircraft and... decals, I sometimes seek the help of a professional.
With that in mind, I'm planning to send some artwork to Don Tichy and get his input on a few decals I would like.
I recently recieved a catalog from Tichy and toward the back there was a page of information regarding custom decals. $35 for the first sheet and $15 each additional.
https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Portals/0/Instructions/94583_TichyTrain_Decal.pdf?ver=2016-11-22-090453-473
No messing with printers, paper, toner, sealants and the possibility of less than adequate results.
Sure, it's rewarding to say, look at what I did on my printer but, for me, I can fit an awful lot of HO artwork on an 8½ x 11 sheet and be pretty sure that it won't bleed or look blurry.
Maybe home printing of decals is a viable option but the cost of having them professionally done doesn't seem all that expensive.
Just throwing out another option...
Regards, Ed
Apparently they are only for color laser printers, primarily HP, Canon, and Lexmark.
chutton01 Steven Otte In theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it. Would work well for patched-out renumbered rolling stock. Background patch color need not match the primary car color, and could be wildly different (e.g. black patch on a yellow freight car)
Steven Otte In theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it.
Would work well for patched-out renumbered rolling stock. Background patch color need not match the primary car color, and could be wildly different (e.g. black patch on a yellow freight car)
Good idea!
Steven OtteIn theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it.
In theory, you could print white numbers/letters by printing everything ELSE on a white decal sheet the color of the background (e.g. Boxcar Red). The nightmare of trying to match the colors that precisely, though, has kept me from trying it. You'd waste an awful lot of white decal paper before you got the color close enough.
With white decal paper you can print images that include white color such as illegal spray paint on boxcars however you can not print white numbers or letters without having to cut out every single number separately. White toner will allow you to print numbers and letters on clear paper and just cut out the entire decal.