[Judeyramone]

Has anyone here tried making their own custom waterslide decals on a computer? I've seen several suppliers offering special paper to print out on an ink jet printer, and I'm thinking about trying it. The paper's gonna cost around $50, which is kinda pricey on my budget, especially if the finished product sucks. Might give it a try anyway, though. I'm married to a graphic designer, so I could get the design services for free (One would hope).

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
Has anyone here tried making their own custom waterslide decals on a computer? I've seen several suppliers offering special paper to print out on an ink jet printer, and I'm thinking about trying it. The paper's gonna cost around $50, which is kinda pricey on my budget, especially if the finished product sucks. Might give it a try anyway, though. I'm married to a graphic designer, so I could get the design services for free (One would hope).

If you are marries to a Graphic designer then use his contacts to find someone who will print you some real waterslide graphics. Although I have never used them I don't trust the ink jet printers for decals because the inks don't have longevity. After 1 year in the sun the decal will look faded and distorted. I have done my own t-shirts and decals using a die sublimation printer and these held up pretty well.

 

[Judeyramone]

The graphic designer is a wife, & she hasn't done that work professionally for almost 8 years. She doesn't have the contacts she used to. I've read that outdoor durability depends on the kind of toner used. I have alternatives to this method, but just wanted to know if anyone has any actual experience with this sort of thing.

 

[Ease]

Personally I think you're better off getting them done somewhere professionally. Even then there is still a possibility of the inks fading.

I think the best way to avoid fading is to keep the number of colors down to a minimum so you can get vinyl cut.

I just had custom decals (approx 3" x 2") and 6 feet of a patterned stripe (2 1/2" wide) made for my bike and it cost me $65.00 Canadian, cut out of white vinyl.

I'm not an expert or anything, but I'd suggest going to a few sign and graphics shops with your design, helps if it's a decent jpeg... places I went to ranged from $60 - $130 cdn (3 shops).

Edited by - ease on Nov 24 2006 1:04:23 PM

 

[jbranson]

I've done stickers on my inkjet printer...they suck. Well...I've done stickers on the "sticker paper" they sell...semi waterproof, matt finish...turn out like crap for the most part. No matter what an inkjet needs a matt finish to soak up and hold the inks. I've never seen a professional looking, shiny sticker or decal come out of an inkjet.
Laser printers will print on shiny tranparency sheets...very nicely...but I don't think they make adhesive paper or transparency of any kind that will go through the heating element of a laser printer.
JohnnyB

 

[Judeyramone]

The same paper is indeed available for a laser printer, however all I have is an inkjet. Did you clearcoat over your vinyl decals? Vinyl seems thick to me. I have some vinyl graphics on a helmet, laser cut from white vinyl, and they sorta have that *******, back window pickup truck, Calvin pissing feel.

 

[jbranson]

Far as I know....neither inkjet or laser will print on shiny vinyl. My stickers were done a some kind of paper, it was basically the best most expensive sticker paper I could find...still sucked. Didn't clear coat them.
Last year I had 150 stickers printed up with my logo from a place on the internet....about $50. Still quite crappy and done on some kind of semi-waterproof paper with semi-waterproof ink. Still matt finish...basically they just used an inkjet.
From what I can tell the only way to get professional quaility shiny vinyl or transparency decals is to...well, have a professional do them. And it's stupid expensive. In the area of $150 for 100 die cut, three color, shiny vinyl stickers.
Let me know if you find another way cause I'd like to have some done at some point.
JohnnyB

 

[Ease]

Yeah I am clearcoating over the vinyls.
It does have a little thickness to it so it'll probably take alot of clear to get it smooth.

Anyone used vinyl stickers as a mask before?

Been wondering if it would work... Spray the bike white, put on the vinyl, then spray the black & peel... Then Clear. Thinking there'll be a leeking problem, or even taking the paint off.

Anyone tried this?

Thanks.

Hey By'

Edited by - ease on Nov 30 2006 11:50:54 AM

 

[Ease]

By the way, not planning on putting the vinyl on fresh paint or anything.
I've got all winter to do this.

Hey By'

 

[Judeyramone]

Anyone have any thoughts on dry transfers under clearcoat?