Create Your Own CUSTOM Decals and Apply Them PERFECTLY | Applying Transfer Sheets

[@Zumikito]

Timestamps my dudes: 0:50 What you need to create to custom decals 6:21 Applying Decals / transfer sheets 9:49 Basing the miniature

[@johnphillips4776]

Are you using a standard printer?

[@aaronstorey8620]

2:44 You don't actually need to have a transparent background on the image. Since printers don't print white ink (they normally just use the white of the paper), any pure white on the image will come out as transparent on the transfer. So as long as the image has a white background you don't need to erase it or anything, just print as is. Just something worth knowing. For standard ink jet or laser printers that's how it works at least anyway.

[@Ennio444]

How would we print white decals, then?

[@MrZangetsu1997]

@@Ennio444 If you want a white transfer, I'd recommend using an Off-white or a very bright grey that you can still distinguish from the background white, the way these transfer sheets work is with printing pigments with colour, so this method may still not work, but if it does, it's better than having to buy transfers online Another option is printing your decal in white, then making sure you have it surrounded by your base paint colour i.e, Blood Angel Red, on your model itself, if you have a square of white paint on your model where you want your transfer to go, the decal will be transparent except for your base colour, so all you're really doing is using the decal in reverse, instead of applying white, you're taking away white with your base coat

[@charlesnunya2347]

little wedge makeup sponges work really well for pushing out air bubbles and flattening out decals. They can be used over and over again for this so one will last forever if you want. For smaller hard to reach places I like the spongy eye makeup applicators. They have little sponges on both ends and a little plastic stick, kind of like a q-tip but since it is sponge and not cotton you don't risk getting fibers caught on the decal.

[@aomaggots-]

Micro Set is for setting the decal. Micro Sol is for dissolving aka “softening” the decals. If you want to soften the decal, use Micro Sol.

[@Zumikito]

Micro set softens the decal a little but too though :)

[@reubenhamer2932]

exactly this...yes he is a great painter but my word that was painful watching him put that decal on.

[@hawkins1384]

One thing, for edges and spacing, You can use MS Document to place the decals, if you don't know how to use GIMP or PS in this. You can also resize the decals there, as you can put in the dimension in millimeters if you need to be precise.

[@Zumikito]

Great advice man, especially the resizing

[@hawkins1384]

@@Zumikito I'm not sure how resizing in MS Documents affects the quality of the image, but if you print 4x4mm Regimental Emblems (as I did, and in colour) it depends more on the printer, than the image itself, I guess.

[@miked5487]

Ive just gotten into this recently I find illustrator is awesome and I convert everything to vectors and print on laser for super fine crisp details

[@NeonFlaming0]

Hey man, this was a great video! Thankyou for being so clear and specific.

[@Zumikito]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@NeonFlaming0]

@@Zumikito I did thank you, I had a hard time finding a clear example on this but now I'm confident I can do it right.

[@Zumikito]

@@NeonFlaming0 hopefully you will get a nice result as well! :)

[@seanmeadows129]

Didn't know that this could be done. Thank you for a great tutorial and may I say what beautiful painted marine. Well done.

[@Zumikito]

Thank you very much!

[@DMXKonCur]

Oooh custom decals, that’s hot

[@Zumikito]

Speed of light!

[@DMXKonCur]

I just have great timing!

[@cpt.s.seiden]

As someone whose just starting my own Sons of the Phoenix this is most appreciated.

[@RodneySloan]

Great video! Use US Paper if you're in the US or using decal sheets from America. A good idea is to check the dimensions of your Photoshop file and compare it to your decal sheets, just so you're sure you don't get size issues.

[@Sanguinary797]

How would you go about comparing the sheet sizes so they match up? I’m trying to do a custom imperial knight sheet.

[@drewprovan]

Can you state exactly what the decal paper is? brand etc? I have tried some and useless. Yours looks great!

[@MrZangetsu1997]

Waterslide paper for your type of printer will probably be the best thing to look for online, though the transfer method is slightly different, tutorial videos are easy enough to find

[@PrelateZeratul]

Great video man...I have a suggestion that you might try for the metallic ones...one my wife used for some of her art... If you get "foiling paper" and use a laminating machine, while putting the foiling paper above your laser printed decal....the decal should be completely covered in the metallic accent of the foiling paper.. I don't however know how this would react with the micro set..if it will remove the metal foil or what would happen

[@Titus_Vespasianus]

so how do you know what size to make the transfers for shoulder pads and stuff???

[@DismemberTheAlamo]

Super late on this, but Vallejo Black Primer is great for doing bases. Super dark. matte, and unless the base doesnt already have primer, it only takes 1 coat

[@kombatunit66]

Pretty cool using micro set to transfer the decal.

[@wookieelicious9569]

I purchased Sons on the Phoenix decals from a guy in Japan.. pretty good, he designs anything you want...

[@Zumikito]

I think I know that guy :) for golden decals definitely worth it

[@wookieelicious9569]

@@Zumikito that would be Scumb4g Kustoms

[@Tremadog102]

@@wookieelicious9569 I got my Knight decals from him, great guy.

[@lego1168]

IS their a place to download already made decal sheets?

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

If you have the time and the practice, try creating your own images as SVG; that way you don't get the pixelization you see in raster image types, and the end decal quality will depend solely on the resolution of your printer.

[@DaisakoKunandra]

Also, if you have a vector program like Inkscape you should be able to have it trace a bitmap to an SVG so that you have a scalable image and you can then tweak that to adjust colors and such or remove details.

[@HO-bndk]

@@DaisakoKunandra Illustrator, like he's using, can do this too (better than Inkscape can manage too).

[@danyloboiko9011]

do you need a normal printer or a laser printer?

[@scotty5213]

Does the type of printer make a difference? Like dose it have to be laser or will it work with an ink printer?

[@hectorfr]

Ya llevo un par de videos tuyos ,muy buenos ,gracias me rio mucho y aprendo cositas

[@russellellis650]

Man, excited to try out the technique!

[@aresking4332]

What would be the scale size for rubric marine's shoulder pads? Trying to get some transfers as a gift for my friend. Also, wondering if this works for white warband symbols?

[@kile1343]

Does a basic ink printer work for this or do you need a special one?

[@jeffreycrowder2866]

Clear instructions thanks zumikito

[@duploman1000]

What are the dimensions of custom decals on an a4 sheet though?

[@cosmokitcat]

Very interesting vidéo. Could you give a link for the paper for printing ? Manu thanks.

[@SKYYDenni]

Very cool videos! I like them

[@Spawn733]

Thanks for the great video! Going to do this now. Would anyone recommend any one printer transfer paper to buy? Just about ready to buy one

[@refreshingryan]

I've been searching for a way to do this for so long, thank you! do you know of any good decal paper to get from places like amazon?

[@Zumikito]

Glad to help! Unfortunately I have been mostly getting mine through my local hobby store so I don't really know

[@refreshingryan]

@@Zumikito ah well thanks anyway, i just thought i'd ask before i bought the wrong one.

[@johnphillips4776]

​@@Zumikitowhat brand of decal paper is it?

[@ReaverLordTonus]

What if you need white decals?

[@KneeCapHill]

What about white decals ?

[@TheMarcinD]

Hey nice tutorial, just one Tip. If you have PS it is reasonable to assume that you have AI. Then you can use image tracing option, if you do you are not limited to PNG files.

[@Zumikito]

You are correct, you can also do most of the stuff in PS anyway 🙂

[@benjaminbaudouin2807]

nice, but how did you print golden decals ? i dont think you have golden ink. and the same to do white decal ? thanks a lot for your videos.

[@Brickerbrack]

1:45 "Some people are using GIMP, which is way better, because it uses vector, not pixels." GIMP is a raster editor, and uses pixels too. For vector graphics, it's _Inkscape_ you're after... 😉 And as long as the image is clear enough, it doesn't need to be PNG; Inkscape (and probably Photoshop, to be honest, though I haven't used it in decades) can actually _trace_ raster images and convert them into vectors.

[@ThatPaintGuy40K]

Yes, it can trace with a rudimentary level of fidelity. But it converts it to a path used for clipping or alpha channels, not an actual art object. You need to export it to AI for that. Might as well just work in Illustration from the outset, which has that functionality.

[@Brickerbrack]

@@ThatPaintGuy40K Ah, so Photoshop's tracing is more akin to a "magic wand" selection tool..?

[@ThatPaintGuy40K]

@@Brickerbrack Correct. And no mater how accurately you trace with the built-in vector tools, the resulting object will never be more accurate than the pixels in the photoshop document.

[@kevinalexander8368]

Where did the gold ones come from?!

[@MODeffects]

Hi, tried this with yellow decals for a blue background and they go green when I apply them. How do I prevent this? Thanks

[@LaminatedPigeon]

Is that astrogranite?

[@TheNabcore]

Help. Cannot locate decal paper

[@elliswithams9484]

Zumikito mentioned he used a lazer printer. Can you use a regular ink printer to print transfers?

[@SiggyCloud]

Brand of the Paper is?

[@darkhighwayman1757]

Don't ya have to spray a coating on top of the print to set it? Won't water make them run?

[@Zumikito]

I seal it with varnish and it's all good

[@darkhighwayman1757]

@@Zumikito I've been trying to make some for my blood angels.

[@Maxinkaiser]

i like the strange sense of humor in your videos

[@jamu8060]

Do you need a special printer for that paper? That was amazing to watch.

[@Zumikito]

Regular laser printer should be able to do it :)

[@jamu8060]

@@Zumikito Thank you Zumikito! One last question but if i'm just trying to make decals for a Space Marines shoulder pad (Primaris) then what should the size be? I'm trying to make a Dark Souls Chapter and I want to make the Dark Souls flaming circle the symbol of my chapter.

[@Zumikito]

@@jamu8060 it took my trial and error, so it's the best way to measure it on your shoulder pad yourself and see how big do you want it - if you are unsure, I think that going smaller is better :)

[@roshamjoepaints]

Might be a little late but in the editor, take the image and resize it then use the font tool to note which ratio/scale you used next to it. Do that a bunch of times and with a bunch of sizes then print it out on plain paper so you can test fit them. I did that then once I was happy copied/pasted the symbols all over the paper and got a ton of them for shoulders, vehicles, etc. Also there's decal paper for both laser and inkjet so pick the one for the printer you have but if you can use laser then do it. I used an inkjet and that paper requires that you seal it with a varnish after and if your spray control is like me then it might come out too thick for some decals which translates into extra work to get them to lay flat. From the looks of this video, laser is the way to go.

[@zipff3co536]

Great video👌 Do you have a link for buying this decal sheet? In Germany we don't have any store that sell this.😮‍💨 I bought one at Amazon, but that sheet was a completely waste of money. It doesn't work at all.

[@matveyev_d]

How have you printed those golden decails? Did you print it by yourself or order print somewhere? Is it UV print or something else?

[@Zumikito]

No idea how to do it, but bought them from scumb4g kustoms on facebook

[@matveyev_d]

@@Zumikito Thank you for a quick answer. I'm experimenting with white custom decails. This is the result I've got so far twitter.com/MatveyevDimitry/status/1320324332661428230 . It's a UV print. I'm not 100% happy with it yet, but it will be better.

[@xglow911]

My custom decals are rubbing off as soon as I try to apply them to the model. What am I doing wrong? Is my printer ink to low quality?

[@jonathanko5471]

thumbnail got me good

[@chrismason9873]

Just confirming you mix the matt varnish with water and not thinner or spirits? I got the chalky haze you spoke about recently from using too much varnish, but I thinned with spirits. Great video. Love you content.

[@Zumikito]

Thank you! I have recently switched to vallejo varnish and this does not happen anymore, still thinning it with water if needed

[@M_Srokie]

what type of printer do you use?

[@doctorgorgomel]

You can use either type just make sure the paper is suitable for your type.

[@Ayyysguy]

Does this work with any printer?

[@danny3tricks377]

Illustrator ftw

[@antonjonsson424]

aaaand WOOOP!

[@ALJessica]

Great video, I can’t wait to make my custom chapter! :) I have two questions. Why not use microsol and could you do a tutorial on how to paint purity steals ?

[@Shep-1701]

Purity seals aren’t too hard just look at any space marine tutorial

[@MrPuzzles]

"You know it's transparent if there are checkers in the background" Lol no, not always. I would say that isn't the case half the time - a lot, and I mean A LOT, of stock resources use a checkered background specifically for SEO optimization - to game Google's search, basically. Meaning, you're just getting a jpeg with an actual checkered background as a part of the image. Though if you're even a little bit handy with photoshop, that's not an issue. Copy-paste, crop, delete, etc.

[@matteocasano5701]

is there any difference between laser printer and inkjet printer?

[@Zumikito]

I think that it will not work with the ink one as the ink will not attach to the surface

[@matteocasano5701]

@@Zumikito I've seen there are dedicated sheets for the ink and for the laser ones

[@Zumikito]

Oh, I got no experience with those though, thanks for the info :)

[@cyagen9782]

@@matteocasano5701 You spray them with a gloss varnish before and it fixes the ink.

[@JMcMillen]

@@matteocasano5701 You are correct. They make decal paper for both ink jet and laser printers because you can't use decal paper for one in the other.

[@stanleyjosten]

I don't usually like how to videos, but for a fellow Sons of the Phoenix player, I can definitely make an exception

[@WolfwoodX13]

Where would one or what would one search for the blank decal sheet?

[@Zumikito]

Try to google transparent decal paper, for example aliexpress has like 40 sheets for around 20 $, that got you for life :) but any general hobby store should have it

[@ashez2ashes]

What brand of decal paper do you use?

[@Zumikito]

I think it doesn't matter as much, I picked up random one from local store

[@umairav255]

How does the quality of homemade decals compare to those of GW? From the video they look pretty great but just wondering if there's anything I should know about potential pitfalls before trying it out.

[@Zumikito]

I mean If I had personally the option to get the GW ones, I would! If you use photoshop and erase some of those pixels on the edges, it is gonna look alright (quality will vary depending on the picture you have used) but if you use gimp, it is near perfect. I mean, you can check out those black decals on my marines, those are pretty much made by me, and it looks pretty good imho - now if you went to a Golden Daemon, that is a whole different story of course, as every tiny imperfection would matter

[@ZalvionProductions]

What printer prints the metallic decals?

[@Zumikito]

No idea, those were custom made!

[@ZalvionProductions]

@@Zumikito fallout hobbies?

[@ZalvionProductions]

@@Zumikito i would be interested in buying a sheet like that

[@Zumikito]

@@ZalvionProductions found it, it is scumb4g kustoms on facebook

[@ZalvionProductions]

@@Zumikito thanks so much!

[@CrankTheJoker]

I see SotP, I give like

[@Belzediel]

Vector isn't better than raster. When you export your image file to the printer, the software rasterises it anyway - your printer cannot print vector images. As long as your dots per centimetre is over 120 you cannot see the pixels, that's above the threshold of the human eye.

[@tomucha]

And what would you consider to be a decent hobby store ... let's say in Prague? Thanks!

[@Zumikito]

This particular decal paper is from Pecka Modelář

[@milkboy903]

May i know what printer did you use to print these decals?

[@Zumikito]

Went to copy center and got it printed on laser printer, dont know exactly which one unfortunately

[@jsspartan622]

Is a laser printer needed to make them? Or will an Ink printer work too?

[@Zumikito]

As far as I know, it's just for laser printer, but try some research

[@jsspartan622]

@@Zumikito ok, thanks!

[@JMcMillen]

@@jsspartan622 You can get decal paper for ink jet printers. You just can't use decal paper for one type of printer in the other type.

[@jeffw1076]

My life will never be the same

[@squishcognito6780]

Whoop there it is 🔈🎧🎼🍑🍑

[@Zumikito]

Louder! 👌🎧

[@E0S1776]

THE EMPEROR PROTECTS

[@stazz316]

What about white decals tho

[@Zumikito]

Might be an issue with lighter colors but I have not tried that so I am not sure

[@throughtherealmgate2239]

Out of interest where do you get your gold decals from?

[@Zumikito]

Used to get them from The Mighty Brush, not sure if he still sells them

[@throughtherealmgate2239]

@@Zumikito okay thanks I'll take a look

[@loltwest9423]

Fun fact: I was gonna paint my Space Marines in black with pink as an accent color and name them "The Sons of the Phoenix." It was supposed to be a nod to my OC since her armor is black and her hair's pink, she also belongs to a sub-species of humans called "phoenixes" (which works kinda as it sounds like: fire powers, eternal youth, regenerating from any wound, and rebirths). Little did I know that the Emperor's Children use black and pink as their colors and their Primarch is sometimes referred to as the "Palantine Phoenix." FML.

[@Zumikito]

Haha, they were step ahead unfortunately!

[@dylanminifie5641]

I’m sorry but did you went outside and used a laser printer??

[@Zumikito]

.... Yes

[@dylanminifie5641]

@@Zumikito ah (thank you for replying your stuff is awesome) you know what, I foolishly thought of a laser CUTTER. Rather than printer, with the addition of “outside” I was very confused. Forgive me for my mistakes, you are awesome

[@Zumikito]

@@dylanminifie5641 thank you! Yea I didn't have laser printer at home at the time lol, so that is why I went outside

[@dylanminifie5641]

@@Zumikito I see! That is fair enough. Well again thank you very much and keep up the fantastic work!!!

[@whocares1175]

I found Network Chucks brother LOL

[@moxopal5681]

You can find this in any decent hobby shop Cries in greek...

[@Zumikito]

You greek people have it generally hard with hobby stores I guess :(

[@npc6817]

that's a saying in italy, to cry in greek since you know, greek tragedies. wonder if you have something similar in greek

[@Roogy_Raja]

You didn’t show us what “laser printing is” or anything for the step from getting them off the computer and out of a printer…

[@scionofdorn9101]

You left out important information. Print it on what EXACTLY kind of paper with what kind of printer? You just glossed right over that part.

[@Zumikito]

Because you can use whatever decal paper and whatever laser printer you want, I use local brand of decal paper so I don't expect everyone to get it too

[@rich6653]

The Phoenix is Fulgrim, Fulgrim is a Heretic, The sons of the Phoenix are heretics. thanks that`s all 😄

[@SurgeMMO]

No no, Dorn is their Primarch they’re tots not Heretics 😉

[@cmdrsausage]

Hey man, Rylanor was a son of the Phoenix and that dude was LOYAL! I know its a bit of meme but loyalists from the traitor legions really get my motor running.

[@rich6653]

​@@cmdrsausage That`s one dreadnought. All i`m saying is, there is a pattern. 😄

[@BTTFF]

Cawl would never dare try something Gillman forbade him! ;)

[@Stray940]

Traitor geneseed? surely no one...cough.. minotaurs...cough would do something do heinous?

[@dan101ish]

"No chance going yellow like other varnish" what?!?!?!

[@rataca100]

Gimps raster, its pretty much a open source photoshop copy

[@GreatOldPete]

to make metallic decals you'd have to use Pantone colours and print the sheets in a professional printing company, which has the machines able to print pantones.

[@HD-tg1be]

Don't use gimp, use inkscape, see logos by nick

[@BeardFaceSuper]

Try q-tips rather a brush.

[@peanusbenis5631]

Doing custom details with one hand makes me wanna do something kinky with my freehand. I'll be here all week.

[@shawnald]

HELP! If anybody knows of 28 mm "tarot card" transfers that would work on a Strahd mini (Like little mystical playing cards in the 28mm scale) PLEASE PING ME! Surely they have to exist somewhere with the popularity of Strahd and the Madame Ava mini.

[@ThatPaintGuy40K]

Not, no, no. You NEVER use a pixel based art application for art assets like this. Photoshop is for editing... PHOTOS!!! Use Adobe illustrator or Corel Draw (vector illustration/editing tools). That way the art you creat is infinitely scaleable in any direction l, up or down, with zero loss of quality.

[@paintfortauva]

Updoot for truth

[@T0mm3n]

Sure that's best practice for branding work, but a miniature decal will literally never be scaled to the point where it would matter

[@eeyun5279]

Meaningless for this application, as he mentioned in the video. If you had listened to that part you wouldn’t have had to have this emotional reaction.

[@sawa3643]

Tribals are looks like: " Come on my back side!"

[@CarlosTrejoVazquez]

I'm fairly sure I've seen that exact tribal on the back of some stripper XD

[@nickjowett5735]

I'm sorry handsome model making guy, what were you saying?

[@starwolf7365]

There a wrinkle in the shoulder pad decal...