Waterslide Decals

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/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from SIMpleONe89 on August 14, 2013, 16:39
Hi guys how would I go about creating a decal for a black background ala Gibson headstock style? How exactly would you print a white font on decal paper?

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Use white decal paper?

Dumb idea -
1. - white decal paper and do your logo as a negative (void) on a black background that would cover the whole headstock, then trim to the size of your headstock - that way you have a consistent layer / thickness
2. - get a signwriter to print it for you
3. - get a bigger than normal white truss rod cover & put it on that
4. - model paints & a steady hand
5. - talk with AJ re: his headstock...
6. - inlay.

Printing White Decals for Black Headstock ...

I'm playing around with this at the moment as I've put a black veneer cap on the head of my SG (under construction) and need a white decal myself ... its not as easy as it may seem, but not impossible

- Laser and Ink printers are fine for colours BUT they don't print white (oh well there's the easy option out of the way!)

- If you can find a commercial printer with an old ALPS printer (they can print opaque white) they'll be able to do it but have heard that those machines are real buggers to work with and most are getting rid of them these days (so if anyone does happen to find one, please let me know!)

- a good screen printer (and I mean a GOOD screen printer!) should be able to print you up your decals using the right ink and not make the resulting decal too "thick" (so it doesn't "feel" under the varnish) but this option will be pretty expensive as they'll have to create a screen especially for your print (not a cheap exercise unless your planning on producing hundreds of the buggers!)

- there's always inlay method if you've got plenty of patience and an even steadier hand

I've tracked down a printer here in Sydney that's giving it a go for me but I've yet to see any results - if it works out I'll certainly pass the details and info along to the community ... but if anyone comes up with any workable options or information, I'm all ears!

Hi Scott
see my 12 string build in non pitbull gear.
For a couple of bucks you can get a good white decal produced at www.best-decals.com.

http://www.best-decals.com/index.php...roducts_id=937

That's what I used anyway and I'm very happy with the results.
Hope this helps..

Cheers,
Gavin.

Looks like Gavin has the winner!

OH yes, Gav you've nailed it!!! ... Thanks for that, it'll sure save the rest of us a whole lot of screwing around!!!

Muchos gracias, amigo!

That's what I love about the PBG community - there's always someone out there who'll have the answer you need and gladly give it ... you just have to ask the right question! :D

I used Clear Laser label, reversed printed the out line, then gold leafed in between the lines, then sealed that with a light mist coat of clear lacquer, then added a few drops of pva glue to the water to soak the decal, then reverse laid the decal.. came up reasonably well. trick is to use thin black outline, and "paint the white color in side the outline.. use a white enamel paint , something like those little humbol paints would be suitable for what you need.
hope that helps.

There are a number of ways to tackle white (or light) coloured lettering on a dark headstock.
Most common would be to apply self-adhesive computer cut vinyl lettering....as Gavin did.
These are readily available from your local sign shop....support your local guy....you'll have more input into the design.
Apply it over top of your finished headstock....as long as no polish has been applied, then it won't stick.
The vinyl is very durable and sticks really well...be careful when cleaning though not to catch any corners of the letters with your cloth.
You can apply first and clear coat over it, but you do have to be careful, and because vinyl lettering is a lot thicker than waterslide decals, it would be difficult getting a dead smooth finish without "feeling" the lettering under the clear coats.
But as no one here uses a spray gun and the dreaded unmentionable :? ... apply your decal over your finish!!

Just wanted to share my recent water slide decal experience.
Ordered the lazerjet decal paper.
While waiting for this to arrive I put together my guitar logo for MIDNIGHT.
paper arrived looked it over read the info all very straight forward
Had to go see my printing lady for some work jobs so took over my paper and got her to print out for me..happy times
She had never seen this paper before so of she went read the instructions , all good.
TIM grabs a sheet out hands it over in and out of the printer , looks great.. more happy times
Now I am back at my desk neck layed out head all cleaned up ready for application . Bowl of water (cold water) first logo cut out in it goes............
Waiting waiting waiting . Nothing...mmmmmmm
Read the instructions again (soak decal in luke warm water ..ohh ok then..
New bowl of water cut out another logo (I had printed a whole page of logos) soak new logo in luke warm water...
Waitnig waiting waiting ..nothing...
Now I am getting a bit POed at this stage looking for an email on the packaging to abuse someone for sending me crap paper.
Third time the charm new logo new water held my tounge in a different direction.
Decal goes in and I wait............. Nothing
Start to have frequent outbursts #@$! £
Not a happy camper by this stage..
Come on Tim its not that hard you built plenty of car models as a kid you can do these decals with your eyes closed.
Grab the sheet start cutting out fourth logo
While cutting and mumbling happen to notice something diferent on one of the other sheets
Mmmmm
Drag out all the other sheets and lay them out with my now cut up logo sheet.
Strange my logo sheet is a different colour.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh penny drops
Some numb skull ie ME
Had handed over a piece of backing card for printing.
Needless to say was feeling some what stupid at this stage
The missus had a great old laugh as did my printing lady when I went back over to get the right piece printed..
Needless to say all things worked out on my first attempt with the right paper and it looks great

Very sad story Tim, I'm sure we (the PBG community) are all commiserating with you ... well, I'm sure we will be once we stop laughing and pick ourselves up off the floor! :D

Not trying to tub it in, but my recent decal experience (today in fact!) .. went like a dream.

Having done a black veneer-capped headstock for the SG (build diary - "SG's SG") I needed a white "name" ... and to leave it unnamed would just be criminal! So of course I started investigating getting white decals printed ... Not too much to ask one would think? I wouldn't have thought so either, after all the decal paper is so readily available ... until I tried to find someone who could print white! (see previous post on this thread) ... after making so many phone calls to find printer who could manage white (without having to go to the exhorbitant extent of screen printing) that I think I paid Telstra's entire annual holiday pay bill, I was just about to give up and go with cut vinyl lettering ...

... and then I discovered a Sydney company Nova Sublimation.

These guys sell a whole range of printing papers, inks, etc., etc. ... and just on a chance I gave them a ring to see if they could recommend someone and it turns out they do a whole variety of printing themselves! Had my prayers been answered? ... you bet they had!!!

I took them the artwork files I had created (so there was no artwork for them to do - saves good bucks) and in 15 minutes I had two A4 sheets of decals (of varying designs) of the crispest and sharpest solid white printing anyone could ask for, and the cost? ... $11 per sheet!!! ($10 +GST) ... considering that each A4 fits about 45 separate decals - I've got at least the next few years of PBG kits covered! (Adam - I hope you plan to keep your stocks up? - I've got a lot of decals to use! :D )

And the quality? ... I couldn't asked for better! (see pics following) ... actually I did put a couple of large versions on each sheet (for guitar case, etc.) so the Lap Top got "branded" as well (as a test run).

Short of it is ... if you want decals printed (especially in white) and you're in Sydney or on the east-coast (or anywhere really as these guys do on-line sales), I'd thoroughly recommend getting in touch with these guys - really good service, top price and nice blokes to deal with ... and they even do full-body multi-colour graphics as well (apparently a couple of Sydney-based luthiers use them already) if you can create an art file of it (Corel, Adobe, GIMP, etc.), they can print it!

Nova Sublimation Aust. (www.novasublimation.com.au & www.decalpaper.com.au) ... or give Toby Warne a call (02) 8332 3042 ... oh, and they don't print on the backing cardboard unless you ask them (Sorry Tim :D )
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