Does anyone know of any decal paper for laser printers that has a VERY DARK BACKING PAPER? I'd like to invest in a white toner cartridge for my laser printer but have very poor eyesight and it is near impossible for me to see small white printing on the lighter decal papers.
Some ads in MR show really dark backing on white decals but when I write to the companies and ask them, I get something like, "We only print the ad that way so that people can see the decals. Our paper isn't that dark."
Ideally (if there are any decal manufacturers reading), offering papers with both light (white or near white) and dark (medium blue or darker) backing would be great.
I appreciate any help you might be able to offer.
Thanks.
dlm
Use a black permanent ink marker on the back of the decal paper.
I tried that with a Magic Marker and then the decal wouldn't soak off of the paper backing... ruined the entire sheet. :(
I saw that tip somewhere quite recently and wanted to try it. Maybe a Sharpie would work. I have some old unreadable Walthers Decals, I'll get back to you.
Old decals can also fall apart in the water.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If markers aren't playing nice a paint pen might work, though I've only tried it with inkjet paper. I needed a waterslide decal with black lettering filled on the interior with silver for a guitar headstock. After printing the the lettering backwards, I did the silver pen painting by hand and then sprayed a layer of sealer coat over the top. Worked nicely.(edit: I went back and reread the original post and realized my suggestion isn't particularly helpful in this instance, but might be useful elsewhere.)
Multiple passes with a Sharpie and it can barely be seen, at the very top, part of the word merchandise and Baltimore & Ohio
Below that multiple passes with a surgical skin marker was a tiny bit better in the scan.
In real life, without the scan and just with the naked eyeball, it makes almost no difference at all. A light coming in from a very sharp angle is better.
That doesn't help the OP. How about employing a teenage relative or neighbor to help cut and place the decals? An Optivisor, not the cheap Harbor Freight one, is helpful to me. You mileage may vary.
BigDaddyMaybe a Sharpie would work
I tried a Sharpie; it did the same as the felt tip. Not a good result
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Donald Manlick and Rail Graphics both printed most of their custom decals on light blue backed paper. It is not very dark, but much easier to see than what Microscale uses.
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Somebody must make it.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190Somebody must make it.
http://www.beldecal.com/laser_paper.html
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I've had the ink soak right through the paper and bond to the back of the decal film... ruined the whole sheet. Using a marker is a risky method.A black light will make white decal lettering glow, making it easy to see what you're doing.
Steve Hunter
I sure would like to find something that looks like this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Wheeling-and-Lake-Erie-Railroad-Locomotive-Patch-Out-Decal-Set-W-/322486184248?hash=item4b15aca938:g:Ss0AAOSwuspY9Mv0
I'm trying to contact the seller.
danmerkel I sure would like to find something that looks like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Wheeling-and-Lake-Erie-Railroad-Locomotive-Patch-Out-Decal-Set-W-/322486184248?hash=item4b15aca938:g:Ss0AAOSwuspY9Mv0 I'm trying to contact the seller. dlm
I have some decals from the same maker. Their background blue isn't as dark as that picture. It's a bit darker than Microscale, but not much.
Bear, Thanks! That is the right product, and the website is very helpful.