I recently embarked on creating my own decals. I create the images I want, in several different software tools, bring it together to fill a page of Micro-Mark Decal Paper and print on my HP Deskjet colour printer. The page comes out of the printer looking great, sharp images and text and vibrant colour.
However, when I spray on the ‘Decal Bonder’ from Testors, most of the red on the page starts to run. If I have a red image or text it shows small bleeding in different areas. Worse is the fact that even the items that are black, run with red. I have discovered that when my printer prints in colour, there is some red in the black.
I experimented by printing some of the same items again and telling the printer to use the Black cartridge only. That worked, even after the bonder/fixer was applied.
So I am left with 2 full decal sheets now with no usable black text and any image with red in it useless. It appears that the red is the only colour that reacts this way. It does not matter if I apply the fixer/bonder soon after the printing, as the Micro-Mark instructions state, or if I wait up to 12 hours for the ink to dry.
SO, anybody had this problem? Am I using the wrong bonder? Is there a different ink I should use?
Thanks for your help.
I feel your pain. Based on my experience, the problem is less likely to be the bonder or the decal paper (both brands of which I have used with consistent good results over the years) than the particular inks your printer uses.
In my own case, I started making decals years ago with a Lexmark printer, and everything was perfect. Did the exact same steps with the same products a few years later on an HP model, and couldn’t get any black to print without that reddish “blush.” I tried a dozen or so different combinations of papers, sealers, extended drying times and so on before I began to suspect it was the printer’s ink that was the culprit. When I got a new cheapo printer with a new computer (another, different model HP) everything worked perfectly again.
You might try some extra drying time before sealing your decals–I’d recommend at least 24 hours, but I sometimes give it a few days minimum if there’s a lot of black or dark colors just to be safe.
Best advice would be to try printing smaller test sheets on other printers (if you have access to them) or at a local copy center. You could also try alternative ink suppliers, though I realize that gets expensive.
Hope you find a combination that works!
Regards
I have also had that problem, especially with color decals. I alleviate the problem to some degree by putting on the first coat VERY lightly, a second coat a bit heavier, and a third “sealing” coat.
I have tried other clear protective sprays, including both future and clear acrylic spray. Got bleeding with both. I have tried clear polyurethane- same thing, but an advantage of poly is that it does not curl the decal as tightly as Testors clears or acrylics.
I am still searching for the magic coating that would allow me to seal the decals with a single coat.
I have also made black-only decals with my monochrome laser printer- they do not bleed, but that laser printer does not make as sharp of graphics as the inkjet.
Forgot to mention- there is a seperate forum for decals, and the ins and outs of homemade decals is a popular subject, so if you are into inkjet decals I suggest you monitor that group.