Decals--Does anyone paint the white?

[SpaceMouse]

It seems to mee that a majority of decals can be made on a standard photo printer if when you need white, you paint the spot on the car/engine white in the place the decal is to applied.

Anyone use this method?

[Anonymous]

You can buy white decal sheets, much easier to print on the white and cut out around the edges. Been there, done that!

Bob Boudreau

[SpaceMouse]

So the only real advantage of the Alps printer then, is the clear around the edges for handling?

[Jetrock]

The advantage of the ALPS printer is that you can print white text on a clear background, or yellow or other light color text/images on a clear background. Not for handling, the fact that the rest of the decal is clear.

If you want (for example) a color image on a white background, you can use white decal paper and just print the image on the white decal. But for (for example) white lettering on a red car, only an ALPS printer can produce white output onto a clear decal. As I have mentioned before, if you happen to be making decals for something black (like an American steam engine, or early diesel, or anything black) you can use white decal film and a laser printer, and just fill in the "black space" around the white lettering/images. Doing it in color is harder because it's a pain to match the color of the ink to the paint on one's model, and because inkjet-decals tend to run and be fuzzy (that darn water-soluble ink.)

[Anonymous]

Testors has an excellent set of products for making your own decals, using a standard color inkjet printer:

1) Decal film sheets - http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=2290 ,
and
2) Decal Bonder (aerosol spray) -
http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=2293

Both of the above items are required for decal printing - first, print your pattern on the decal film (after several "test runs" on plain paper, of course!); then spray a layer of the Decal Bonder to protect the pattern/lettering from washing off when you dip the decal in water to apply it.

They have both clear and white-background decal film. I used the white film to make some CSX paint patterns that I dreaded trying to mask. I might still have the degital images of this project at home - if enough people express interest I will post them.

I'm really happy with the stuff so far...

**BTW, if you decide to try this stuff, buy the Bonder and Film separately --- the starter kit has the film rolled-up to fit inside the square box and it will not work properly with your printer.