Decal Designs

Finding Decal Designs

I am interested in making my own waterslide decals from an inkjet printer, and I understand that I need waterslide inkjet decal paper.

My question to you, isn't there a software CD or graphics CD that I can pick a picture out of the software to print?

I am building model planes and these decals would go on there. I appreciate any feed back.

Thanks,

John

Yes, you're correct. You can use your inkjet printer to print onto Lazertran Waterslide Inkjet Decals.

They're very simple to use. Create your design in a graphic or greeting card software program (more on that later). Print it onto the chalky white side of a Lazertran decal sheet, use a printer setting which does not lay down much ink. I use draft setting. Too much ink will cause the colors to run together and ruin the design.

Allow a half hour for the ink to dry thoroughly. Cut out your design.

Submerge each piece in a shallow bowl or basin of water. It will immediately curl up. Wait for it to relax. It takes less than a minute. Test to see if the decal slips easily off its backing paper.

Remove from water. Slide the decal into place and smooth it down. Let dry. For added durability, you can add one or two coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Spray.

Finding or Creating your Decal Designs

You can find many designs in a graphics software program with an art gallery (like Print Artist, PrintShop or Print Master) or digitize a design you want by photographing or scanning it.

Print Master has the largest art gallery of the three. However, for model planes I think you need mostly shapes and text which are found in all of the programs I mentioned. My favorite is PrintShop.

For example, you may want to put stripes along the fuselage. That would be done by creating a long thin rectangle shape in whatever color you need. The airline name or squadron number would be done with a bold chunky font. A red bulls eye would be created by layering a small red circle on top of a larger white circle on top of an even larger red circle.

If you don't find the graphics you want in your graphic program's art gallery (I'm thinking like a duck or shark's teeth), you need to find or draw the picture you want and scan it into your working document. Digital photos can also be used.

You could also do a search for "free clip art" possibly for "military insignas".