Does anyone have expirience using Micro Scale's clear decal film?I printed some really simple graphics on my nephews computer that just faded away when i put them in water.I sprayed later attempts with Poly S gloss coat,thinking I'd seal the ink,but it still didn't work.I know the instructions call for a laser printer or a photo copier,so is this all i did wrong?Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
You need to get decal paper that is compatible with inkjet printers. There are several suppliers that make sheets for both inkjet and lazer printers but they will not work in the wrong printer. I've used the lazer printer decal sheet, and it works good for black print, don't have a color lazer though.
Micro-Mark at www.micromark.com sells two types of decal paper, including one for inkjet printers, which is what you were evidently using. Try that paper. Regular decal paper does not work with felt tip pens either - I tried to make some graffiti once!
I have used decals made by a customer. He used inh-jet decal paper by Vitacal. They need to be oversprayed with a sealant after printing. They went on well. Try vitachrome for info. Good luck!
Try the JetCal paper (made in England). This is a decal paper made especially for InkJet printers and that does not need anything else than just the printing (the paper must have some sort of product to fix the ink). I have tried it with much success. Their web site is : http://www.thedecalpaperstore.com Jean-Louis Simonet Visit traiN'ternet: http://www.trainternet.org/ [ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: JLS ]</p>
I have used various ink-jet decal sheets, including Micro-Mark. I wasted many decals before learning the following techniques. 1 - The printed image must be sprayed with many coats of a clear finish, otherwise the ink will smear even when dry. Micro-Mark sells a decal coating spray, but I'm sure there are others. 2 - Wet the decal from the rear ONLY! Hold the decal with tweezers and float it on the water surface. Otherwise the water will creep under the spray coat if the decal is submerged. 3 - Light inkjet colors will not show up when transferred to dark backgrounds. Inkjet printers do not deposit a thick enough layer of pigment. 4 - For light letters on black backgrounds, I print the decal with a square of black background and print the letters as "white" so they appear as clear spaces on the decal. Then I paint a small patch of the lettering color I want on the car, tender, or whatever. When the decal is transferred, the painted lettering color shows through the clear decal lettering, but is blocked by the black decal background. I'm sure this would work with other dark background colors, but matching the colors could be dificult. 5 - Another technique is to print the decal images onto photo paper. Then copy the images onto the decal paper with a color copier. Office supply stores such as Office Depot or Office Max offer inexpensive copying services. Another advantage with a copier is that you can adjust the decal size precisely with plain paper copies before making the final copy onto decal paper. Caution - The copied decal must still be sprayed before wetting.
I placed an online order for some decal paper with the 'decal paper store' and it arrived this morning! The paper is white, which is great, as I need some white lettering. Now I need to practise. Will post results here.
The jetcal paper sounds good but is there any affordable software to help make and size decals for trains?
I have done some test decals with the paper I obtained from "The Decal Paper Store". When it is applied, and is still wet, it appears clear, instead of white. But it does turn white as it dries. However, it does not seem to have any adhesive tendencies, and will not stay down on anything but an absolutely flat surface, which makes it not very good for diesels! Decal setting solution does have some effect, but on the whole it is unsatisfactory. Here is a locomotive decaled using these decals, but I will definitely be trying Vitacal, as it is available in clear and white. I have used some decals made with this paper, and they behave like Microscale ones when decal setting solution is used.
Alan, Looks good! Not bad for using the "Home Made Decals" that you talked about being they aren't the greatest with setting solutions. But I would imagine you got some real time involved in that loco being you used those decals.... But I'll admit nice work for using poor quallity decals!
Alan, your decals look excellent. What printer are you using? Are you using stock or after-market inks? Have you tried light pigments, e.g. yellow or pale blue? Do you have to make any special settings with the image software or printer driver? The green looks amazingly opaque over the white background. Thanks, Hank [ 16 September 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]</p>
Hank, I do the artwork using a CAD program, the printer is an Epsom stylus color 740. No special inks or other processes used. I tried doing the artwork on Paint Shop Pro, but to get the correct printed size, image quality suffered when they were resized. On the CAD program the image size is not changed, but the printer can be instructed to print any actual (specified) size, with no distortion. So far I have only tried the green on the AW locomotive, some dark blue on some CLLX decals, and some in black. One good thing about this paper is that it does take ink very well, with no after treatment needed. I am happy with the reproduction, but not with the decal paper, so I am going to try other makes.
Alan, Did you pick up my info about the alternative decal paper in the N-Scale section ? It isn't cheap when purchased in the U.K. but there doesn't appear to be any alternative. The U.S. producers cannot send the paper-kits direct to the U.K. by mail-order because of the aerosol spray fixer. Best wishes, John.
Alan, thanks for the response. I am using an Epson Stylus Photo 875DC which produces excellent coverage on Epson brand photo papers, but poor coverage on a variety of decal papers. I would appreciate your observations with Vitacal and the paper that John Whitby referenced. By the way, your AW logo is very impressive
