Pin Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 My stash of decal paper is close to exhaustion. What brand of decal paper do you use for your custom decals and why? Where do you buy decal paper in UK? I'm interested in inkjet printing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I sell Experts Choice - £2.50 a sheet, either clear or white film. They also do a clear and white laser versions. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I sell Experts Choice - £2.50 a sheet, either clear or white film. They also do a clear and white laser versions. Paul Watch out if you use this brand because it is shorter than A4 and may miss the bottom of your image off... Been there, done that, effectively chucked t'money down t'drain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) I recon this size is called "Letter", right? Do you know how thin is the film? Naturally, in microns? Edited September 25, 2012 by Pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Watch out if you use this brand because it is shorter than A4 and may miss the bottom of your image off... I've found this too. I think it's "letter" size (or some other American standard). I've used Mr Decal Paper a few times for inkjet, always seems to come out OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 You could try Crafty Computer Paper, I've used their laser paper, and another club member has used the inkjet version with good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I've been using the Experts Choice paper (both inkjet and laser) from Paul at Little-Cars for about 6 or 7 years and it is very good. You just need to allow for it being Letter size rather than A4 and whilst it is a bit shorter than A4 it's also a bit wider so the area is almost the same. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Size is not an issue for me, I rarely print large decals. Thanks for your opinions - I'll give Expert Choice a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I've rarely printed anything where it made a difference but as Viscount806x said you can waste some paper if you're used to printing on A4 due to the size difference from Letter. I always leave a border around the artwork to allow for it to be masked off before spraying Halfords clear over the top. If you don't mask it then the clear coat can soak into the paper and you'll never float the decal off - guess how I know this...... Also if you use the laser paper, DON'T use the Halfords clear as it eats the coating on the paper - guess how I know that as well...... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) I'd say - don't use Halfords Clear at all, use Microscale Liquid Decal Film. This stuff is designed for purpose and works amazingly well. Edited September 25, 2012 by Pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Watch out if you use this brand because it is shorter than A4 and may miss the bottom of your image off... Been there, done that, effectively chucked t'money down t'drain. It's an american product so you set the printer to letter size. Decal film is great for coating decals you make as well as putting over old 'fractured' decals. Paul Edited September 25, 2012 by little-cars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I'd say - don't use Halfords Clear at all, use Microscale Liquid Decal Film. This stuff is designed for purpose and works amazingly well. This stuff is good but... Don't leave it near Micro Sol / Set ( the blue bottle, can't remember which it is) and by mistake try and use it to seat decals. As the rest have said, "Don't ask how I know this"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 Don't leave it near Micro Sol / Set ( the blue bottle, can't remember which it is) and by mistake try and use it to seat decals. As the rest have said, "Don't ask how I know this"... Oh dear .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I'd say - don't use Halfords Clear at all, use Microscale Liquid Decal Film. This stuff is designed for purpose and works amazingly well. The Halfords clear laquer works fine on the inkjet paper I used recently and I found that it was more robust when handling over the Microscale stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJackal Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I have yet to try custom decals but do want to take the plunge. Would one of you Inkjet experts be kind enough do do a little tutorial helping us newbies with some of the pitfalls/best ways to do things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 Just a couple of tips - try not to touch working surface of paper before printing - I use "glossy photo paper" printer preset - once deal is printed allow 10-15 minutes to dry - cover printed area with microscale decal film. I usually do two layers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJackal Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 And then it is a matter of using it just like a normal decal? Do they tend to be thicker or thinner than say a good Tamiya decal or any more delicate? Is Micro Sol/Set still ok to use on top as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 And then it is a matter of using it just like a normal decal? Yes, but one should bear in mind that these decals do not have white background and will be barely visible on dark paint Do they tend to be thicker or thinner than say a good Tamiya decal or any more delicate? Usually slightly thicker Is Micro Sol/Set still ok to use on top as well? Decal setting liquids work just fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corporate Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Some very useful tips here. I've done DIY decals but have an immediate requirement for some very narrow (1mm max) white stripes/lines and I wonder if plain white decal (inkjet) paper would do? Just spray some Klear on top, then slice it into strips with a scalpel - ? Can it be that easy? I've tried looking for ready-made white stripe decals but without success. Thanks, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 ^ If you weren't going to print on them I wouldn't have thought that it would need sealing. (Nothing to seal? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Some very useful tips here. I've done DIY decals but have an immediate requirement for some very narrow (1mm max) white stripes/lines and I wonder if plain white decal (inkjet) paper would do? Just spray some Klear on top, then slice it into strips with a scalpel - ? Can it be that easy? I've tried looking for ready-made white stripe decals but without success. Thanks, Tony Hi Tony Hannants sell a sheet of white decal stripes in different widths for £1.99. http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/XPS2 Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted November 7, 2012 Author Share Posted November 7, 2012 (edited) Some very useful tips here. I've done DIY decals but have an immediate requirement for some very narrow (1mm max) white stripes/lines and I wonder if plain white decal (inkjet) paper would do? Just spray some Klear on top, then slice it into strips with a scalpel - ? Can it be that easy? I've tried looking for ready-made white stripe decals but without success. Yes, I'm practicing this trick regularly. You don't even need to spray anything, what is required - new and very sharp blade and good metal ruler. The thinnest stripe I cut was, I think, about 0.2-0.3 mm - used it to imitate cockpit window frame Edited November 7, 2012 by Pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corporate Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 (edited) ^ If you weren't going to print on them I wouldn't have thought that it would need sealing. (Nothing to seal? ) Ah, right - I meant to say I've never tried DIY decals, but missed out "never"! I'm very uncertain about the whole thing. Thanks for that - makes life easier. Tony Edited November 7, 2012 by corporate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corporate Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Hi Tony Hannants sell a sheet of white decal stripes in different widths for £1.99. http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/XPS2 Hope that helps. Yes it does, sounds just the job if I feel the DIY route is beyond me. Still.... Yes, I'm practicing this trick regularly. You don't even need to spray anything, what is required - new and very sharp blade and good metal ruler. The thinnest stripe I cut was, I think, about 0.2-0.3 mm - used it to imitate cockpit window frame Thanks for confirming this idea is do-able. Nice to have a variety of options. Sometimes I hammer my brain over some trivial techy problem, then realise all I have to do is ask on BM and some helpful soul will provide the answer. Many thanks, chaps. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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