Decal Paper/Decals for Novices

Well, since slapping decals on figures is possibly one of the funnest things ever, I'd like to try to write my own Decal 101 thread. Granted, I've only ever done it to one figure, and half of the decals broke, but my dad also builds model planes and puts decals on stuff virtually every day.

Decal Paper.
If you order a decal from a buisness like Fine Clonier, your decal will already come on decal paper. However, if you want to buy decal paper and print up your own decals, try this website: http://www.tangopapadecals.com/prod01.htm

Preparing a figure.
You need to prepare the figure you're putting a decal on before you put the decal on. Many of us have 'naked figures', meaning they have no printing whatsoever. However, many of us, similarly, do not. So: Before getting your decal out, find the right leg color, torso base color (The color of the sides of the torso is what color the plastic is, not the front), and belt color. If you are doing a clone trooper decal, get out a clone trooper, standard white. Now, go to the hobby store, and find a product called 'brasso'. It is used to clean brass pots, and to clean off the printing on minifigures. Spread the brasso on a rag and rub hard against the minifig torso. It should come off.

Putting the decal on.
Get out the figure decals on the decal paper. With a very sharp knife, but small, cut around the edges of the decal. Every single one. Make sure not to cut into the decal. Now, with everything cut out, go get a small bowl and fill it halfway up with warm water. Now get some tweezers. Grasp the decal you want with the tweezers on the side. Gently, but firmly, lower the decal into the water. Hold it there for about a minute. Now take it out. Make sure you have dissasembled your figure before. Now lay the decal, face down, against your thumb. Slide the decal backing paper off, it will be a bluish color. Trash it. With the decal still on your thumb, apply the slightly damp application surface (minifig torso, legs, arms...Whatever) to the back of the decal. The decal will adhear to the minifig. Now, with a cotton swap, slide the decal exactly into place. Make sure not to wrinkle. Let dry for several minutes.

Making your own decals.

Torso design:

1.422 cm Wide
1.201 cm Tall

Leg designs:

1.4 cm Wide
1.1 cm Tall

Belt design:

1.4 cm Wide
0.2 cm Tall

CC007, do not hold it in the water, just dip it in the water for 5-10 seconds then let it soak on a flat surface for 1-2 minutes. I should know, I've done 100+ decal transfers on minifigs. Also, If you buy decal paper, you will need to by sealant or else the decals will rub off.



CC Bacara

Clone Commander Bacara wrote:CC007, do not hold it in the water, just dip it in the water for 5-10 seconds then let it soak on a flat surface for 1-2 minutes. I should know, I've done 100+ decal transfers on minifigs. Also, If you buy decal paper, you will need to by sealant or else the decals will rub off.

Yeah I was wondering about that, so CCB what do you recomend? Also do you need a sealant for Kam's Decals?

I followed kam's instructions and held it in for a minute, but CCB has done them MANY more times than I have. I've only done it to one figure.

You don't need a sealant, but I would suggest not handling the figure to much. I have mine in a display case.

I know all this 'cause my dad had hundreds of model airplanes and he uses decals for all of them.

You will need sealant if you want to print your own decals.

If a torso has printing on it will the decal not stick? because I have this white torso with a really tiny picture on it and I'm wondering if its a problem or not.

Uberlag wrote:If a torso has printing on it will the decal not stick? because I have this white torso with a really tiny picture on it and I'm wondering if its a problem or not.

No it won't. However, waterslide decals are transparent, so if you want to ut a big watersilde decal on something, you'd better remove the printing. That last is why I use my own stickers, no removal is needed, and I can peel them off again.

Brasso would be the product to remove this with.

Oh yes, I forgot to say that. Thanks CC007.

Couldnt I just paint the torso white? and Pineapple, what stickers?

Uberlag wrote:Couldnt I just paint the torso white? and Pineapple, what stickers?

1. You can, but it looks very ugly, I think.
2. What do you mean?

Uberlag wrote:

DarthPineapple wrote:
That last is why I use my own stickers, no removal is needed, and I can peel them off again.

I buy some standard stickers sheets in the store, and them print them myself. I don't use waterslide decals.

Excellent! Thanks for the info.

They sell sticker sheets? Like paper-stickers or the real stickers? And at what store?

MOD - Watch your capital letters. The shift keys are your friends.

Uberlag wrote:They sell sticker sheets? Like paper-stickers or the real stickers? And at what store?

Not the ones you get from Lego, I use paper-stickers, because they can be peeled off again. Just go look in a bookshop or so, I think you have the most chance in there.

DarthPineapple wrote:

Uberlag wrote:

DarthPineapple wrote:
That last is why I use my own stickers, no removal is needed, and I can peel them off again.

I buy some standard stickers sheets in the store, and them print them myself. I don't use waterslide decals.

I do the same thing!

If I could get stickers to work, I would use them as well...

astoriabluelegos wrote:If I could get stickers to work, I would use them as well...

It's not hard. Can't you find where to buy them or what?

Clone Commander Bacara wrote:You will need sealant if you want to print your own decals.

Would a clear paint work?

cln-cmndo wrote:

Clone Commander Bacara wrote:You will need sealant if you want to print your own decals.

Would a clear paint work?

We are talking about decals, not paint.

DarthPineapple wrote:

cln-cmndo wrote:

Clone Commander Bacara wrote:You will need sealant if you want to print your own decals.

Would a clear paint work?

We are talking about decals, not paint.

As a sealant? (No more words were required for this post.)

Could someone resize my ARC decals for me please?

I dont have any program like fireworks or flash to do it. =[

How do you plan to print them? You should be able to select your print size when you print them on to a decal sheet.

Well, to maintain all the detail you lower the size, like when I print out Kam's decals, I resize them to 24%.