Making your own decals

Thanks for all the info roosterfish!

HP has a color laser printer that is suppose to be almost as good as the Magicolor. I've seen the HP work and it will feed a thicker sheet of paper. The price range is the same as the Magicolor. The HP looks like a very oversized, blue, breadbox. Image-wise the HP is not quite as smooth in making photos.

Rooserfish, can you tell us what the model is on the HP printer and what is the price on that one and the Minolta ones. Thanks.

Here is the link to HP and their color laser printers with prices (list prices). The ones I've checked out are the 1500 & the 2500 series.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/ho/WF02a/18972-236251-236268.html

For the Magicolor 2300 & 2350 series you could check here. I would say the Minolta printers are about $50 higher:

http://www.minolta-qms.com/products/color/index.asp
http://www.minolta-qms.com/products/color/mc2350/index.asp

A review on the Magicolor printers:

http://www.minolta-qms.com/products/color/mc2350/index.asp

Color laser printers can get confusing very easily. Everyone knows inkjet printers and printer prices. People are starting to get used to black only laser printers. But, until recently, prices of color laser printer have been so high that not a lot of people know about them, their capabilites or their advantages. Color lasers cost more initially but make up for the higher price by saving on the supply prices. I've had my Magicolor for eight months with average home use and I'm still using the starter ink cartridges with no end to the cartridges lives in sight. The savings on ink cartidges alone will have this printer even money compared to an inkjet printer and the expensive ink cartridges in about one more year. And I can make instant waterproof decals too.

thevinman....

I do that now pretty much when I need to make my own-- I use the Bare Metal Foil clear decal paper-- print out the decals once they are the right size, etc-- then brush on liquid decal film (the stuff you use to fix damaged decals)-- and wait until dry-- then I'll brush on another layer, trim, and they are good to go....and have not seen any ill effects when using Micro Set or Sol......

Roosterfish, sorry I misspelled it last time. thanks for the info. Those printers aren't too bad, not too pricey and do they print white? Thanks again.

Hi, I've been looking for information about printing decals on color laser printers and I should have come here first. I'm interested in the Minolta Magicolor 2300DL and was set to buy one until I saw an ominous message on the Papilio website that their decal papers don't work with "new, lower priced color laser printers with no fuser oil unit". Now I see that Roosterfish is using a Magicolor printer that apparently doesn't use a "fuser oil unit". Is there anyone out there who can say for certain wether the 2300DL will print decals? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Steven

Jimz...lol, I'm not offended by a mispelled name...lol. :D

Ahh...the big problem with the current batch of printer is they do not print white. Printers assume you are printing on white paper and use the paper color for white. So a brighter paper will give a brighter prints and brighter colors but that doesn't help us people who make decals. Only Alps printers were able, through a white thermal wax ink cartridge, to print white. Alps aren’t sold in the US anymore. Even Alps printers were not perfect; they were known to make banding in printed areas.

There are ways around that white background problem but it does take a couple of extra steps.

One way is to get white background decal paper but after printing on the white sheet you have to carefully cut around the decal so none of the white edges bleed outside the decal. Then a black marker or pencil is run around the edge to prevent the white edge from showing up. Then apply on the model.

Another way is to print two decals, cut them both out and paint one white. Then apply the white decal on the model. When the white decal is dry follow up with the unpainted decal, registering it on top of the first one. The white will show through the clear areas.

Another way is similar to the second way. Print and cut two decals and apply the first decal. When the first decal is dry you airbrush the white areas on the applied decal. Then you register the second decal on top of the first one.

Another way would be to get someone who has an Alps printer to print your decals and let him use up his supply…but that would be cheating.

I would consider buying an Alps at Ebay but I don’t know how long the ink suppliers will keep the inks in stock and I don’t know if the inks have an “expiration date.”

I’m not an expert. Anyone else have suggestions for getting white on homemade decals?