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At this point I normally recommend Winterdyne's guide to applying decals, but in short.
Apply over a gloss varnish base
Use Microset and Microsol (solutions specifically for softening and setting decals)
Seal with another gloss coat
Put a Matt coat over the top.
I follow these steps and often get asked if my decals were applied freehand, as, when done right, it is almost impossible to tell.
Something that can also help is, if you're applying a light coloured transfer over a dark base colour, paint the rough shape in a lighter colour first, as the slight translucence means that a darker colour showing through can wash out the colours.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
Another pro tip is to cut the transfer as close to the image as possible, leave as little excess transfer. Also, making relief cuts on the image can help quite a bit.
Here's how I do it. With a very sharp exacto knife, I cut out the transfer along the edge of the logo, leaving no clear transfer material, only the printed part. If you don't do this, the Ultramarines logo, as well as Fast Attack and Devestator markings, will never lay flat. I wet the area of the shoulder pad where it will go, and slide the transfer on using a brush, and move it into place. I tear off a small piece of paper towel (big enough to cover the area and then some, and starting at one side, carefully roll my finger over the transfer. If you move it, re-wet with a brush full of water, and re-position. I dry it with a blow dryer.
Now here's the best part. After it's dry, I take white paint thinned to normal working consistancy, and carefully paint over it. This serves two purposes: 1) it will make it white, not white with UM blue showing through, and 2) a lot of people will look at it and think you've free handed it. Once I top coat with Dull Cote, the blend is perfect.
But I've used them in the past for stuff, and they definitely sell it.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
There are also other brands of decal softening solutions available. Testors has one that can be picked up at Michaels and I have a bottle from Badger lying around that found years ago - God knows where. Micro-Sol/-Set are the gold standard, though, and I can't say how favorably the others compare. I've only ever seen them for sale online/mail order - you can get them through MicroMark or Amazon, as well as various Ebay sellers/electronic storefronts for hobby shops.
The Dreadnote wrote:But the Emperor already has a shrine, in the form of your local Games Workshop. You honour him by sacrificing your money to the plastic effigies of his warriors. In time, your devotion will be rewarded with the gift of having even more effigies to worship.
Want a bomb technique to freehand the inverse omega (Ultramarine symbol)? I use it myself and get great results every time on infantry and smaller needs for the symbol.
1 -Paint a single white circle as large or as small as you want - fill it in white.
2 - Right at the top of this white circle, do a single straight bar across it, so it now looks like a circle with a flat length of white across the top.
3 - Next step is the final move. Put the same blue on your brush that is the blue of the shoulder pad. Put the point of the brush on the center of the circle, and swipe upward in a straight line. BANG INVERSE OMEGA BAD ASS ULTRAMARINE FREEHAND MAGIC.
This gets harder as you scale it upward on larger models, as the edges require precision to look good.
