printing own decals (update)
Charles A Davis
The problems involved in 'printing' decals are many.
With the explosion of 'quikie' print shops, personal printers for those
of us with computers, etc. You need to be aware of the problems inherent
in printing methods that you've never heard of before.
Laser printing.
At home OR at a print shop.
The 'ink' is really 'finely ground plastic'--
In most (modern ones, older sometimes used only pressure) laser
printers and 'Dry toner' copy machines, the toner (plastic ink)
is melted into the surface of the paper/overhead projection
film/whatever. If you have created a film atop the glue layer
of the 'decal sheet', the 'ink' has a chance of sticking to it.
(I have seen BLACK,BLUE,GREEN, and RED toners in this type of machine)
Thermal transfer WAX (a good one) {for COLOR}
(if you have one of these at home --- why are you bothering to
try and 'do it yourself', you can afford to have it done.)
You are going to need a film atop the decal sheet for this also.
Any of the commonly used paint solvents in model RR usage are
going to cause 'running, smearing, and other assorted distortion
problems. I think that the alcohols in the 'water based' paints
also fit here.
Dye sublimation {for COLOR}
You are going to need a film atop the decal sheet for this also.
Similar problems to TWT (above)
Anyway, these are some of the problems awaiting solution.
Later on Sat April 1,1995, Chuck wrote
Ink Jet printer/copier (don't know how I left this off)
The mail problem with the 'Ink Jet' units at this time, is that
the 'inks' are WATER soluble. Unless you figure out a way to
(and do it) seal the printing away from the water used in the
'decal application process', the whole thing will just wash away.
Another thing that enters into planning is the 'opaqueness' of the ink.
Most of the inks used in 'Full color' printing are somewhat transparent.
This is to allow for the 'blending' of layers of ink that are printed on
top of each other. This is also what allows the 'dye sublimation'
printers to produce so many variations in hue (color). But at the same
time it REQUIRES that the substrate(paper) be white -- for the colors to
be correct.
Inks that are to be a specific color, are mixed to that color -- and that
is what is printed. (This is an option that color copiers don't have.)
The other way of creating apparent colors --- is halftoning, but for
that to work satisfactorily -- The dot size and application rate need to
be a lot smaller than is presently available to someone with less money
than the Kennedy family. (consider a N herald, blowing it up to be 4" to
6" across, just to look at, or maybe for a wall hanging or whatever)
Chuck