Inkjet decal paper

[nkalanaga]

So, I finally decided to get busy and actually print my own decals, having come up with enough non-white stuff to fill a sheet.  Having received Micro-Mark catalogs for years, I ordered some decal paper from them - or tried to.  Both clear and white inkjet decal paper are backordered, with no indication of when it will be available again.  Interestingly, so is their "Gloss Acrylic Fixative", which, according to their own online photo, is nothing but Krylon clear spray paint.  Not having bought anything from Micro-Mark for at least 20 years, I have no idea if this is normal or not, but, in any case, it won't help me.

Does anyone have a suggestion for where to buy inkjet decal paper, that they have experience with, and that is likely to actually HAVE the paper to sell?  Or is it in short supply everywhere?

Thank you.

[peteski]

https://www.bare-metal.com/
I have not tried their ink jet decal paper, but their laser decal paper works great in my Alps printer. My favorite.

[nkalanaga]

Thank you.  I'll give it a try.  I don't want to order something that's already "backordered" without a reasonable delivery date, as I'd like to try this while I'm "isolating"!

[nkalanaga]

Order sent.  We'll see what happens.

[wvgca]

I've used the Testors brand, both clear and white ..
but I don't remember where I got it from, or who might have it in stock ..
by the way, if it matters, I settled on the white, seems to give a better end result ..

[peteski]

I've used the Testors brand, both clear and white ..
but I don't remember where I got it from, or who might have it in stock ..
by the way, if it matters, I settled on the white, seems to give a better end result ..

Consumer grade ink jet and laser color printers (which use CYMK inks) depend on white background (printer paper is white) for accurate color rendition.  The inks they use are translucent, so if the background color is other then white, the colors will be tinted by whatever the background color is.  That is why printing on clear decal paper film will not not produce proper colors when applied to the model, unless the model's surface is white.  If you apply a color image printed on clear film to a black model surface, it will be almost invisible.

Using white decal paper solves that problem (since now the inks are applied over an opaque white surface, allowing proper color rendition), but that also means that the remaining white decal film around the images has to be carefully trimmed.

That is why printer such as the (long discontinued) Alps Micro Dry, are in such demand for personal decal printing.  Alps printer is capable of printing white ink and also retract the paper into the printer and overlay multiple ink layers.  SO when printign color decals, Alps can apply white ink under the color images, leaving the rest of the decal film clear.

Decal companies, such as Microscale, produce decals using silk-screen printing technique which uses opaque inks, therefore those colors look accurate, even when applied to non-white surfaces.

[Showme]

I used Testor's and it worked well. Hobby Lobby stocked it. Good luck finding an open store presently.....

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  That's why I ordered both clear and white.  Much of what I have to print is either black (data), or logos for white/light gray semi trailers, so can go on the clear.  Most of what will have to go on the white sheets is easily trimmed, square or rectangular, so the white background isn't a problem.

Showme:  Walmart claimed to have Testors in their online store, but only 7 packages, and they didn't say whether it was for inkjet or laser printers.  Not knowing, I didn't buy it.  I'll remember that Hobby Lobby also sells it, for when they reopen.  Thank you!

[peteski]

Peteski:  That's why I ordered both clear and white.  Much of what I have to print is either black (data), or logos for white/light gray semi trailers, so can go on the clear.  Most of what will have to go on the white sheets is easily trimmed, square or rectangular, so the white background isn't a problem.

Showme:  Walmart claimed to have Testors in their online store, but only 7 packages, and they didn't say whether it was for inkjet or laser printers.  Not knowing, I didn't buy it.  I'll remember that Hobby Lobby also sells it, for when they reopen.  Thank you!

Don't forget to make sure the  ink is thoroughly dry, then seal it with clear lacquer.  Otherwise, since the ink is water-soluble, it will run when the decal is placed in water.

[glakedylan]

@peteski a questions, please?
printing number boards in block on white decal paper
leaving the numbers white, placing them on a
DGLE or Tuscan locomotive would not likely
provided clear, sharp, and white looking numerals?


thanks!
Gary

[thomasjmdavis]

Hobby Lobby does sell online (at least the clear sheets), unfortunately they are currently out of stock.  Hopefully Testors is still making it (what with the recent RPM "efficiency" program wiping out Model Master).  They do have a "notify me when in stock" feature.  And for the moment, a "free shipping for orders over $39" is showing on my screen.
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Model-Kits/Tools-Adhesives/Decal-Paper/p/1158

[thomasjmdavis]

@peteski a questions, please?
printing number boards in block on white decal paper
leaving the numbers white, placing them on a
DGLE or Tuscan locomotive would not likely
provided clear, sharp, and white looking numerals?


thanks!
Gary

I'll stick my nose in here.  I've tried.  There are 2 problems to consider when using white decal paper that may or may not apply depending on paint scheme (see below).  1) If you are using white decal paper, you must exactly match the Tuscan or DGLE or Pullman Green or whatever background color for the number board or letterboard that you are decaling, and this is very time consuming and in my experience requires a lot of trial and error. 2) You get a very fine line white edge around the cut edges of the decal, and this requires some delicate airbrush or brush work to get rid of. 

Problem #1 is less of an issue for roads that had letterboard backgrounds a different color from most of the car.  An example would be ACL stainless steel cars, that had a purple letterboard with white letters- the letterboard does not have to exactly match the background stainless- indeed was intended to stand out- just needs to be "close enough" to nearby purple cars. 

Likewise for problem #2- the white cut edge of the decal is less likely to stand out if the background color of the area decaled is light (and shiny also helps)- so it is less evident on a stainless steel car than on one painted in a dark color.

[Mark5]

Gary,

Not sure where you are going with those numberboards, but have you considered the ShellScale number board decals?

https://www.shellscale.com/numberboard%20page.htm

Mark

[peteski]

@peteski a questions, please?
printing number boards in block on white decal paper
leaving the numbers white, placing them on a
DGLE or Tuscan locomotive would not likely
provided clear, sharp, and white looking numerals?


thanks!
Gary

In theory, yes.  But I have never printed any ink jet decals.  Since ink is liquid, it  might spread out a bit as it soaks into the absorbent layer on the decal film.  Laser printer would probably be better for sharply defined lettering. Having owned my Alps printer for years, I have no use for ink jet or laser printed decals.

[joepri]

I was never happy with the image quality of ink jet decals.  I also found the Micro Mark decal film to be very think and it took a lot more work to get the decals to conform to the model.  I have had good success with using the Microscale Laser paper run through a color copy machine.  I print the master on regular paper and run the decal paper through the Color copier using the sheet feeder at an office supply store. I used the transparency paper setting if the copier had one.