LASER PRINTING DECALS

KeithT

KeithT

Hillwalking, chickens and - err - garden railways.
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Ross did you specifically want a black background?
I hasten to add that I know v little about this but, if you need a clear background apparently using a .png file with ordinary printers should give this.
 
I found this stuff and hopefully will use it. I have to complete the restoration of SWMBOS grandmothers Singer sewing machine and all it needs are some decals so using that as justification Ill get her to buy it.....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110685456954&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

There is pliable and rigid stuff, the pliable seems to be the go for what we would need as it moulds around contours etc. Can be supplied with either a clear or white background, your choice or a mix of both.....

As to programs to get decent printing I use Design Cad to design and print off most of my stuff. DC probably vectorises everything anyway. Paintshop pro also does a good job of allowing one to doctor digital pics for ones own purposes....
I humbly suggest that you guys discover "Torrents" http://www.utorrent.com < Link To www.utorrent.com
These nifty little things can download all manner of expensive software free from places like Bit torrent Junkie viz: http://btjunkie.org/

Nudge nudge wink wink say no more......
 
Ross this is the old classic waterslide stuff, you have to soak it for 30 seconds and slide it off the backing.....
 
yes, printing in white has always been a problem 8| I can do white on any colour as long as the background ie the substrate is white.....
 
HOLY SNAPPING DUCK POO, who buys that at that price?????
Not I said the spy, with my little eye.....
 
I use a chap (John) at Precision Labels - http://www.precisionlabels.co.uk < Link To www.precisionlabels.co.uk - who uses Alps printers - which can print white, as well as metallic colours (in the past he's done me custom nameplates for 4mm models where the lack of relief is less critical). Alps printers (and their inks) are very expensive - John has to run a business to make it pay for itself. I've never heard of an individual just buying one to make their own transfers.
 
ALPS Microdry technology was indeed a half-decent way for a typical "home hobbyist" to produce small quantities of "proper" waterslide decals in white and metallics etc. The technology was used in a small number of printers by ALPS, OKI, Citizen and Kodak (possibly Roland too?). However it was an old technology intended for short run "proof prints" not everyday printing, and sadly ALPS have now stopped making any more Microdry printer hardware. Most of the models are only at their best/most flexible output when used with drivers on older operating systems (Windows 98).

Consumables will be around for a year or two yet (with steadily increasing prices no doubt), but then that's it until someone else comes up with an alternative in the same "home user" price range.

The printers *were* cheap on eBay but have been creeping up over the past 2-3 years. Trouble is they're not particularly robust and the heads are prone to burn-out over time, so buying a used one can be a bit of a risk.

Yes, I did buy one specifically to make my own decals - this was a few years ago when they considered them to be affordable and I had a specific project in mind that needed white decals. Even then it was something like £70 second-hand on eBay! Suffice to say it and it's dwindling supply of cartridges are jealously guarded, as is the old Windows 98 system I run it on!

Must admit I've yet to be totally convinced by the various inkjet / laser decal kits and techniques that rely on "inverse" printing the background colours onto white media in order to achieve white decals.
 
ntpntpntp said:
as is the old Windows 98 system I run it on!
Click to expand...
ahhhh yes I have an old NC engraving machine that will not run on anything faster the Windows 98.....
 
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