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Does anyone or any company do custom decals on commission? I don't have a printer and i'm thinking of getting a batch done for quite a few projects.

If this service is available, what prices would i expect to pay? Would i pay by A4 page? Do i have to provide the finished designs?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Check with your local copy shop. Blank decal stock exists, but you must use a laser printer or copier - and inkjet print will just smear when you put it in water to activate.

I know OfficeMax copy departments have it; my wife works there and that's how I get mine done... I don't know if you have those on your side of the pond though.

Thanks for the info Vulcan! I'm not even sure we have copy shops here. I've not heard of them before but to be fair i've never had to look for one. They're probably just not very common.

Anyone from the UK that can point me in the direction of a chain of these stores? Or even a big one i can order from?


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Update: I found these guys online and i found a guy that does commissions as a solo project.

Just a thought: Have you checked the Bolter and Chainsword website archives? They have a TON of premade decal sheets you can print out. Your design might just be there already.

Vulcan wrote: inkjet print will just smear when you put it in water to activate.

The inkjet ones I've seen have said to varnish them once printed out. Never actually used them myself tho.

Check this out, they are a one stop shop http://www.decalgear.com/DG/.

Inkjets work great on testors decal paper - you do have to spray them with sealant after you print them or they will in fact smear.
I'm not sure that you can use decal paper in a laser printer as it might melt.

Dont know of any services that do it but it might be cheaper to save up and get a small printer.

Think workable spray fixative would work well enough to seal it?

Not sure about the workable fixative - I've only ever used matte sealant.
Maybe if you saturated it enough with the fixative it would work but my impression was that it was just designed to keep charcoal from smudging rather than providing a water tight seal.
worth a shot though!

also micro sol and micro set are hugely important in setting up your custom decals.

good luck!

Zuul wrote:Think workable spray fixative would work well enough to seal it?

This is your best bet http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=testors+decal+set&hl=en&rlz=1C1_____enUS462US462&prmd=imvnsfd&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=677&ix=sea&ion=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14856059809275533232&sa=X&ei=ybpvT_30CIqgtwfDg5GLDA&ved=0CIkBEPMCMAc

treadhead1944 wrote:

Zuul wrote:Think workable spray fixative would work well enough to seal it?

This is your best bet http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=testors+decal+set&hl=en&rlz=1C1_____enUS462US462&prmd=imvnsfd&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=677&ix=sea&ion=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14856059809275533232&sa=X&ei=ybpvT_30CIqgtwfDg5GLDA&ved=0CIkBEPMCMAc

I use this stuff all the time. Spend the money and buy an inkjet printer. Buy the Testors clear paper. Go to B&C and look there. You will probably find some really cool stuff.

Thanks for the help folks!

Got a hold of an old dilapidated printer, will it do the job or will i need something more modern? All it needs is ink, i think, maybe...
If i need something newer how much will i have to spend? I don't think i have the cash for it right now.
Thanks for all the advice on the various products, i'll invest in them to make sure i get a good end result.
I had a look for the bolter and chainsword stuff but i couldn't find it, could you provide a link please? They wont have exactly what i need for sure but they might have something i can adapt.

Thanks again, guys!

Winterdyne has made some amazing decals in the past and I contacted him about doing some of my own. Since we live across the pond from one another, he recommended that I make my own. He even posted a tutorial about it here on dakka. Lemme see, yup, here it is:

Winterdyne's Step-by-step Waterslide Decals Tutorial

Great link, tah for that. If i can't make my own for whatever reason i might approach them for a commission.

Try this link:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?automodule=downloads&showcat=1

If you don't have a printer, you could just take the file to Kinko's or something. Be sure to print the sheet out on normal paper first to check the size. Then give them the decal paper and print it for real.

Thanks man, the link worked. Sadly i couldn't find what i was looking for but i got some great ideas for how to put mine together.

I'll pm Winterdyne and see what i can find out, i might even ask them for a commission if it's not too expensive. Hopefully i can make my own though!

The cost in decal runs is in the design time. It's every bit as time consuming as doing the freehand on a few figures would be. Bear this in mind; it's not just a case of stick paper in the printer, press print.

Cool, that makes sense. I guess if i made the designs myself it would cut costs dramatically? Would you need them in a certain format?


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In reply to your pm: That pricing seems fair, if i can't get my printer to do the job i'll get in touch. Thanks!

The trick is to work above the resolution of the printer, then reduce down. So I start working at a resolution of 1200 dpi. then drop to 600 or 300. Also ensure you only use 'solid' colours. Shades of grey are printed as a stipple. Light colours will need a light background, so a guide decal may be an idea - this is what I used for the IF chapter symbol on the set I used on the tutorial. Always test print on paper before wasting decal film.

Great advice, i'll look into designing some stuff.