MF | How to print scale decals

[@ColonelRebScaleModels]

Great video, Paul, touched on all the aspects of this process, both the good and the bad...very helpful for anyone trying or thinking about doing their own decals...thanks for taking the time to share this process with everyone!!!

[@robertravena]

thank you,, you explained something i had been wondering .. how to get the correct size of decal without wasting paper and playing with sizes.. i have inkscape and i think it has the same ruler setup as photoshop & you explaining how to use the measuring bars or rulers to get the correct size .. thank you. hopefully learning from you makes it easier for me.

[@ricks69z28]

Thanks Paul for showing us how to make decals, I have looked at the decal paper a dozen times in hobby lobby but didn't know what to do with it. Now I will get some next time in and give it a try, thanks again for taking the time to do the video. Rick

[@leefisher.styrenemarine5566]

great video one thing I did learn was making my own decals on clear they are pretty transparent so if you put clear on dark the detail pretty much disappeared good information that you gave us have a great 4th of July if you're in the states

[@mikebreazeale2563]

Great video Paul. I just wanted to say that I use Experts Choice decal paper by Bare Metal Foil. The transparent decal or clear works so much better than the Testors clear decal paper. It seems to me that the color is very good with Experts Choice. You also can print it twice if it is two light for some reason. Also, I think there is a ink jet printer that prints white. Kinda pricey...It seems like Andy X had that on one of his videos one time (I believe it was him). Anyway, I love making my own decals. I have done it for years. So many things you can do with them. It so fun to make and do! I hope more people try it. Thanks for sharing...

[@robertmorris2573]

Hi Paul. Thanks for the tutorials. I have made a couple of Mexican blankets and surf boards. Once the doc let's me to start walking again I'm going to try the other videos that you have.. Again thank you.

[@JahPerformance]

Wish you sold a sheet with all the decals together, you always do cool and unique details and labels. I have been looking for optima battery decals among others for years, but can't find them. I know about slixx and many others but you have the eye for small details. Quality looks good to me thanks for sharing Paul.

[@WoodyWorkshop-31A]

Great tutorial, Paul. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this for the model building community.

[@lucifersmechanixgarage4235]

Thanks for sending me this way in your new video Paul. I can now print out my contingency decals. Great how-to!

[@pturley84]

+Lucifers Mechanix thanks for watching!

[@MrModelworx]

Great video subject Paul, something a lot of people don't realise they can do at home. I've been making decals for a few years now and get pretty good results. ....shame they haven't invented white ink yet though......apart from those Alps printers.

[@natelloyd6312]

Another way to find the correct size can be from printing the decal out on normal paper before printing it out on the decal paper!

[@ricochet0122]

Great tip..I was planning on doing some down the road...Now I know what to look for....Thx

[@wisner6]

Thanks for the tutorial Paul, I'm definitely going to be giving this a try!

[@ModelCarMinion]

Thanks for the tutorial Paul, I'm going to look for the Gimp program you mentioned below.

[@scaleautoworkshop4426]

Great tutorial Paul. I always enjoy your videos. Vaughn

[@Kk51000]

what if you forgot to print something can you still use the same paper?

[@DoctorCrankysLabRATory]

Wonderful video, Paul. Very informative and excellent results.

[@pturley84]

Thank's Doc!

[@ChazzKustomz]

Awesome tutorial video! The updates on your thunderbird pro street is looking awesome! Kutgw, peace!

[@pturley84]

Thanks man!

[@fokker51]

Great tutorial. Any suggestions on a free program like Adobe Photoshop?

[@pturley84]

+fokker51 thanks! There is a program out there called Gimp. It is pretty similar and free.

[@fokker51]

+Paul Turley Thanks!!

[@rellom777]

Hello, would a laser jet printer be better than ink jet? Im new to this

[@genecrabtree1315]

Awesome video! I love the digital dash display

[@mcmodelworks]

Great tutorial brother. Some very good information. Thanks for sharing.

[@ShortWhiskersBJD]

I still can't figure out which printer is good to print water decals :(

[@njcivicwagon1]

Great tutorial Paul. Thanks for sharing

[@itsssjim]

if you don't have access to photoshop i'm pretty sure you can do that same thing with "Krita" look it up, it's free and very very good.

[@MoonwalkerModels]

Great tutorial video Paul!!

[@Klaymour28]

when doing homemade decals, what is the best paper to use for the image being bright, but not having a white background that needs a ton of close trimming?? They are going on a coloured surface, but if I set the background of the image transparent, the colours of the image dont show very up other than dark outlines, regardless of how bright it is before transferring. thanks Doc

[@pturley84]

HI Doc, If you decal you are making requires a transparent background then unfortunately printing your own at home will not really work. The white decal paper will print bright and keep the color of your decal, but there will always be a white background. You would need to look into getting some custom decals printed.

[@Dragonstylejb1]

Hi Paul, once you lay these decals down can you or have you tried to use an automotive clear coat over them such as GravityColors? My fear is that it may wrinkle.

[@pturley84]

Hi Jason, Sorry for the late response. I have been moving. I have used many types of clear over decals with success. I have never tried Gravity Colors. The best advice I can give is to try it out on a test piece with some old decals or something.

[@theriley1976]

If you have a vintage sheet that you have scanned and saved to your computer, the measurements are already there. measure the original and place that size into the editing software.

[@jamiegsscalemodelgarage3823]

Nice How to video now what about one on how you make your nos bottles Thanks for sharing Jamie

[@pturley84]

Thanks Jamie, I'm getting there! I've got a list of how to vid's to make and not much time to do them lol.

[@ronzufelt1428]

I think you can go to FedEx and have them printed using their Laser printer, Great video Paul.

[@pturley84]

You might have to test it first as I believe these decal sheets are made for inkjet printers. Some papers are not compatible with laser printers. Would be interesting to find out if it would work.

[@ronzufelt1428]

Yes you would need to use laser paper.

[@TimberSurf]

Save paper and cut A4/fullscap into four. Put in tray sideways and set tray width correctly.

[@BennyCFD]

Absolutely, that's what common sense is for.

[@pastorjuanc.higuera3.16]

great tutorial, great video, very well explain, best i ever seen, i learned something today

[@pturley84]

Thank you for watching!

[@samuelvasquez8170]

Great tutorial. Thanks

[@spinynorman887]

I need white letters for a dark colored aircraft. Is there any way to print white letters on a clear sheet? Or do I have to cut the letters themselves out of a white sheet? Thanks in advance for the help.

[@pturley84]

Unless you have an actual decal printer, there is no way to print white with an inkjet printer at home. It might be easier to find an actual decal maker that could make you some custom decals.

[@spinynorman887]

I was afraid of that. Thanks for confirming it for me. In a more positive note, I have discovered that I actually need black lettering, so never mind.

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Awesome Paul thanks!

[@pturley84]

Thanks man!

[@marcosfernandeznanita7150]

Nice men, that help a lot, thanks...

[@alexdjsaborlatino587]

after printing is the destors applied?

[@pturley84]

Yes, after the ink dries you can spray the Testors decal bonder. Once the bonder is fully dry the decals are ready to use.

[@robertmayer7678]

So how do I determine scale, especially if I don't have Adobe?

[@darkryde1]

Print first on plain paper and resize it bfore printing on decal sheets

[@juancarloscontreras3823]

hey Paul how do I create tire decals ?

[@pturley84]

Unfortunately this DIY method will not work for tire decals as those need to be white lettering and inkjet printers do not print white. You will probably need to look for decal makers who can make the custom decals for you or look into the decals that are already out there.

[@keithschrack]

Technically, one could achieve this by preparing black text on a white background, then printing the image 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 on white decal sheet. The result would be a decal with white letters surrounded by black. Affixing these to a tire would likely prove troublesome, but the technique would certainly work on black panels...or on 𝑎𝑛𝑦 panel one was able to color-match appropriately.

[@MrPA300]

My decals keep rolling up and sticking to themselves while applying and the edges keep rolling up once they are on the model. Any suggestions?

[@pturley84]

Hi James, I’m not exactly sure what would be causing your decals to curl. Are they large decals? Also are you using any decal setting solution? That might help them lay down better.

[@MrPA300]

Paul Turley Hi Paul, thank you for your reply. I am not using any solution to lay them on the model, should I be? I had a little success rewetting some of the corners and edges that were rolling up and they seem to stick better. Thanks for your help and your video as this is my first time customizing a model (a 1:64 scale ambulance)

[@Zone5Aviation]

Top tip, when you put your decals in the water, place them in face down into you water container. Larger decals often tend to roll up but placing them in face down, helps to reduce or stop this from happening. Also always best to apply decals onto a glossy surface to prevent slivering aka bubbles from forming. Finally, use a setting solution like Micro Set. Apply this before and after apply the facelift to you model. If you decals lay across panel lines and details, use Micro Sol in addition to the Micro Set to get the decals to conform to the detail to give a more painted on appearance.

[@raf155]

Can you use a color LaserJet?

[@pturley84]

you can, but you will need to make sure you get decal paper that specific to laser printers

[@jakejohnson6044]

Is Testor's the best to use?

[@pturley84]

There are some other manufactures of decal paper that people use. I'm not sure the brands. I have used the testor's because I can buy it locally.

[@bombshell31600]

hi..... well a normel printer do also `? ? ?

[@pturley84]

This was printed on a normal ink jet home printer

[@iancameron1662]

Hey paul can you help me again.i was a diesel mech and worked for Daunders leasing in memphis in 1974 .loved the company then Ryder bought us.can you make me some decals i have pics of the logo to make doorcdecals on .if you can help let me know.i.ll pay

[@M-Batman]

I have some stickers from Revell Ford Raptor kit . How do I scam them ?

[@pturley84]

+Isaily De La Rosa if you have a printer with a scanner then you can scan them in that way.

[@M-Batman]

Thank you Paul , you're the man .

[@nathanfinnegan522]

First 7 minutes is agonizing.

[@WarcraftIsForVirgins]

Ok so every single how to on the net shows how to print images already available on the net. Thats a no brainer. What I'm looking for is how to draw your own decals in Photoshop or Illustrator. Things like grills or the entire side of a funny car. Any idea how to do this?

[@richardmasonhughes]

Try this...Take a photo of the panel on the car you want to work on. For eg the passengers side. Take a side profile shot as parallel as possible. Then measure the width and height of that side. Create a new document in photo shop with the measurements. Place the image of the car on top. Hit command T (mac) to engage the transform box on the car image. Click and hold a corner, while holding the mouse click, also press shift and option. Drag and scale image to fit the box. Create design on car then print.