Has anyone tried this product?http://www.testors.com/tes_cds/catalog_img_std/9198.jpg Anyone have any comments about, or experience with this product? Sounds interesting but I wonder if it’s any good.[%-)] Now they need to come out with a small self contained vacuform machine, like the old Mattel unit! [swg]
Not sure about the Decal System…and I dont know about the old Vacu form machine Mattel had but I did see a Vacu form machine at Hobby Lobby…least Im pretty sure I did…I’ll check when I go back on saturday
I’m bringing this thread back up because I’d like to get some info on this as well. Has anyone tried this? I’m totally new to the concept of creating one’s own decals.
I bought the disc for $7.00, and they want you to pay for an upgrade before they allow you to import images. I think the upgrade cost $10.00, and I was feeling a bit taken to actually do it. I was not impressed with the 15 whopping (notice facetiousness here) images to print, so I never actually printed with the program. I’ve heard of people just using other programs like a photo suite, or paint shop…hopefully more will reply to your inquiry Bones and Woody.
I bought Testors decal maker at wal mart thinking it would be really cool. I should have known since it was only 6 bucks. As soon as I saw you had to spend more money to import your own pics I uninstalled the software. I spent more time installing the thing than actually using it. I think its a waste, but someone on here found a way to by pass paying for the upgrade and still be able to import your own images, if you could figure out how to do that then it would be worth it.
Well heck, I’m pretty good with Photoshop, AutoCAD, etc. The only reason I was wanting to buy it was for the paper, sealer and all that stuff. I really don’t need the software. If I can create the images, what do I need to print and use decals with just a regular ink jet?
Check out this thread from the Aerodrome message board. The guy who started it really likes the Testors product. It does seem to work best if you already have a dedicated image editing program:
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13797
Regards,
Even though this was written for printing decals with an ALPS printer, most can be used for printing with inkjet also.
CUSTOM DECALS
PRINTING THEM WITH AN ALPS PRINTER
BY BARNEY KABLE
THE BASIS OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO GIVE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE BASIC STEPS TO PRINTING AND COLOR MANAGEMENT WITH AN ALPS MD SERIES PRINTER.
THE ALPS MD SERIES PRINTERS ARE NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED AND CAN ONLY BE FOUND USED OR AT AUCTION. THE BEST PLACE TO ACQUIRE ONE IS ON E-BAY. THERE ARE THREE MODELS OF PRINTERS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE DECALS (MD-5000, MD-1300, MD-1000). ALL THREE WILL PRINT WHITE INK AND THE 5000 AND 1300 WILL ALSO PRINT PHOTOGRAPHIC QUALITY IMAGES USING SPECIAL INK CARTRIDGES AND PAPER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN SETTING UP TO PRINT DECALS USING AN ALPS PRINTER:
- A DRAWING PROGRAM ( Mid to High Priced )
- AN IMAGE EDITING/PHOTO RETOUCHING/PAINT PROGRAM
- A SOURCE OF COLOR MANAGEMENT
- QUALITY DECAL FILM
A DRAWING PROGRAM IS NECESSARY FOR DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF GRAPHICS. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS ON THE MARKET THAT WILL HANDLE THIS TASK (COREL DRAW, ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR, DENEBA CANVAS). MY FAVORITE IS DENEBA CANVAS (VERY USER FRIENDLY). NEXT IS AN IMAGE EMITTING PROGRAM THAT YOU USE TO LAYOUT A PAGE IN LAYERS, WHAT I LOOK FOR IS A PROGRAM IN WHICH YOU CAN COPY A FULL PAGE TO SEVERAL LAYERS AND SEPARATE EACH COLOR TO BE PRINTED ON A LAYER. ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS FOR THIS IS ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. YOU CAN LAYOUT MANY LAYERS OF GRAPHICS AND EDIT THEM WITH RELATIVE EASE. THIS HELPS A LOT WITH MANAGING COLORS TO BE PRINTED. I HAVE FOUND THAT FOR MILITARY SUBJECTS, COLOR ACCURACY IS VERY IMPORTANT AS MOST COLORS ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO MILITARY SUBJECTS FROM ANY PERIOD AND COUNTRY. A VALUABLE INVESTMENT IS THE FEDERAL STANDARD PAINT CHIP CHARTS (FED-STD 595B) AND SEVERAL BOOKS WITH PAINT CHIP CHARTS FOR BRITISH RAF AND GERMAN LUFTWAFFE. I HAVE TAKEN THESE AND SCANNED THEM TO GET THEIR RGB VALUE, AND THEN ANYTIME I NEED A SPECIFIC COLOR I CAN OPEN IT AND EDIT GRAPHICS WITH IT. THE LAST ITEM I MENTION IS GOOD QUALITY DECAL FILM. SEVERAL MAKES DO NOT REACT WELL TO SETTING, SOFTENING SOLUTIONS, AND SILVER, EVEN WHEN PLACED OVER A GLOSSY SURFACE. IF YOU PLAN TO PRINT A LOT OF DECALS CONTAINING WHITE INK, BUY CLEAR DECAL FILM ON LIGHT BLUE PAPER BACKGROUND, SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR PRINTED GRAPHICS EASIER.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE FEATURES OF THE ALPS MD SERIES PRINTERS. THE THREE PRINTERS MENTIONED ABOVE CAN BE SETUP TO PRINT ON THICK STOCK PAPER AND BY TURNING ON THE SPOT COLOR FEATURE YOU CAN SPECIFY A SINGLE COLOR TO PRINT (WHITE, CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW OR BLACK). THIS IS VERY USEFUL FOR LAYING DOWN UNDERCOATS OF COLOR FOR OPAQUENESS. I HAVE FOUND THAT TO PRINT WHITE, I MAY HAVE TO RUN THE DECAL FILM THRU SEVERAL TIMES TO GET NICE OPAQUE GRAPHICS AND TO GET DARK SHADES OF BLUE. YOU MAY HAVE TO RUN A SPOT COLOR LAYER OF CYAN UNDER THE RGB VALUE RUN. REDS, YELLOWS, AND ORANGES ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT COLORS TO PRODUCE, AND YOU MAY HAVE TO RUN SEVERAL SPOT COLOR LAYERS OF MAGENTA AND YELLOW UNDER THE RGB VALUE COLOR.
THE NEXT FEATURE THAT IS VERY USEFUL IS THE OVERLAY BOX, THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO PRINT A COLOR LAYER AND THE PRINTER WILL KEEP THE PAPER IN THE PRINTER AND IN PROPER REGISTRY READY FOR THE NEXT LAYER TO BE PRINTED. THIS FEATURE SHOULD BE TURNED ON FOR ALL LAYERS PRINTED EXCEPT THE VERY LAST LAYER. USING THIS FEATURE, I HAVE YET TO PRINT A FULL PAGE OF DECALS OUT OF REGISTRY, EVEN WITH UPWARDS OF 14 LAYERS OR MORE.
ONE NOTE THAT MUST BE MADE IS WHEN SETTING UP THE LAYER OF GRAPHICS FOR WHITE INK, ONE MUST MAKE ALL THE AREA TO BE PRINTED WHITE SET IN BLACK IN THE IMAGE EDITING PROGRAM AND USE THE SPOT COLOR AND OVERLAY FEATURES TO PRINT THE LAYER THEN MOVE ON TO THE OTHER LAYERS TILL DONE. THE LAST THING TO DO IS TO OVERCOAT THE FULL PAGE WITH LIQUID DECAL FILM TO SEAL THE INKS IN. THIS WILL KEEP THE INKS FROM LIFTING OFF THE DECAL FILM WHEN PUT INTO WATER FOR PLACEMENT.
PLEASE TAKE THESE POINTS AS A BASIS TO START PRINTING CUSTOM DECALS AND TAKE THE TIME TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE DRAWING AND IMAGE EDITING PROGRAMS TO FIND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU. FOR FURTHER READING, PLEASE REFER TO FINE SCALE MODELER, NOVEMBER 1999, VOL. 17, NUMBER 9 AND GO TO www.tangopapadecals.com., WHICH HAS SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THIS SUBJECT.
Woody,
You might want to look at the other threads regarding making decals[:)]
There is a wealth of information on the subject including the Testors offering as a do it yourself decal system[2c]
Richard
Ok I pretty much thought this decal maker stunk since you had to pay for and upgrade in order to import images. But i just messed around with it today and insytead of importing an image by clickinhg on file then open. Just open whatever picture you want to make a decal with MS paint, then just right click,copy, and then paste it into the testors decal maker. I havent tried printing anything but this will get the image in the testors system. But its probably better to just use a phot editor with decal paper.
Whoa Casey, thanks for the info bro!!! I thought that stupid disc was lost!! I’m gonna give it a shot later tomm to see if it works…maybe I’ll try printing something too.
Dude, it works!!! I just opened up an F4U profile image in paint, copied it, and pasted it into the Testor’s system, than I printed it (on plain paper, no need to waste the decal paper). It works fantastic, thanks Casey, I owe you one buddy!!!
hey no problem dude, I pretty much thought this thing was a bust but it seems pretty cool now.
I bought the system and, instead of using the Testor’s software directly, just imported images to PhotoShop. Everything worked fine for the printing, but as yet, I’ve not been successful coming up with images that don’t dissolve in water. In other words, I haven’t been able to make the decal spray-on film work. Any tips/tricks to get past this? Cool concept if I can get past this hurdle!
Do other brands use a spray on film?
I have bought this product to and have yet to learn how to use it.If anyone can help me,I would apprecate it.I barely know how to work this computer.Digger[:)][C):-)][:)]
All I’ve done is research and materials gathering so far, and this string has been very helpful in that regard. I wound up buying Micro-Mark decal paper (clear and white) for ink jet printers since I already had a crude art design program to create images. The Micro-Mark instructions state “you must immediately apply a few thin, but thorough coast of #82858 Clear Sealing Fixative Spray (it looks exactly like a can of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating, which is readily available) to seal the inkjet printed image on the decal paper; otherwise, it will smear and/or wash off”. I’ve also successfully rescued cracking decals - a similar situation - with a coating of Future and in other instances, a coating of Microscale Liquid Decal Film.
I had bought the kit and used it to print up a license plate for a car i built. It worked fine. The kit comes with a can of spry set so when you print the decal the ink jet ink wont dissapte in the water. The only down side is getting more of the spray. I have been looking for an aftermarket supplier of it but havent found one as of yet. If any one knows of one please let me know.
I have been using Bel decal paper, and for clear coat Krylon Crystal clear or Fixitif. I do all my drawing using Autocad and am very happy with the results. A laserjet printer works the best but the bubblejet will do. I just finished a Lindberg USCG costal patrol boat and the old decals were pee yellow so I scanned them and printed new ones using the supplies as listed, turned out great !
hit quote to see something that i might not put here, for legal issues, lawrence delete if you need to
[Serials.ws for serials, i think they have some for the testors decal software ]