Water slide decal paper question.

[MINI_MYTE]

Ok guys, I just bought some water slide decal paper (as well as some decal sealer) from my local hobby shop this past Friday. I have not printed anything on it yet. I have been reading other threads here where people are experiencing problems with colors bleeding and messing up. I also heard talk of Krylon and or decal sealer. Can somebody please give me a step by step tutorial on how to use this water slide decal paper. Everything from printing to sealing to trimming to dipping in water and prper instruction on applying. I'd like to have the advice of experienced people in this category so that my first few tries go smoothly. Thank you.

[Nervous Rex]

Hey Mini Myte, here is the one I used when starting out, I'm looking for some more detailed ones, a lot of good stuff on this site. I'll post up some more stuff if I can find it, Some of the other ones I used aren't working any longer. Hope this helps some

http://www.minifigcustomizationnetwork.com/howto/897

http://www.minifigcustomizationnetwork.com/forum

http://www.fineclonier.com/Decal_Application.pdf

http://www.fineclonier.com/Decal_Design.pdf

http://www.fineclonier.com/Forums/viewforu...05da195ecc151bd

[Jatta Pake]

MINI-MYTE:

I've been intending to put an article up on MMHQ, but here is the down and dirty.

You need two chemicals. A decal setting solution and a matte coating.

1. Print labels (I use a color inkjet). Let them fully dry.

2. Put three coats of matte coating on them. I use a Testors decal label spray but I really don't think it's any different than the Testors matte finish spray I use on the finished Minimates. Don't spray too close or the air stream will smear the ink on the labels. Let the labels fully dry between each coat.

3. Cut out some labels and put in water. If they smear or bleed, you need to add more matte finish to your labels. Always make way more labels on each sheet than you plan to use. I just cut and paste my rasterized images in Illustrator.

4. Slide the decal from the backing in the water.

5. Gingerly place and position the decal on your minimate. Dab off any extra water.

6. Apply the decal setting solution. This "melts" the decal onto the Minimate. Let it dry.

That's it!

[TM2 Dinobot]

Thje hardest part for me would be designing the decalls myself. I'm gona have to try this though.

[THE_CRIPPLER]

I've never used the decal setting solution on my decals. I just use a clear coat over it when it is dried onto the minimate and it seems to work just fine. I have never had a decal come off after doing that. I have even tried to remove a decal afterwards, and I couldn't even get it off.

[MINI_MYTE]

MINI-MYTE:

I've been intending to put an article up on MMHQ, but here is the down and dirty.

You need two chemicals. A decal setting solution and a matte coating.

1. Print labels (I use a color inkjet). Let them fully dry.

2. Put three coats of matte coating on them. I use a Testors decal label spray but I really don't think it's any different than the Testors matte finish spray I use on the finished Minimates. Don't spray too close or the air stream will smear the ink on the labels. Let the labels fully dry between each coat.

3. Cut out some labels and put in water. If they smear or bleed, you need to add more matte finish to your labels. Always make way more labels on each sheet than you plan to use. I just cut and paste my rasterized images in Illustrator.

4. Slide the decal from the backing in the water.

5. Gingerly place and position the decal on your minimate. Dab off any extra water.

6. Apply the decal setting solution. This "melts" the decal onto the Minimate. Let it dry.

That's it!

Is the decal setting solution matte finishing spray or is it it's own thing? Who makes it and what would the bottle / applier look like?

[Will Work 4 Mates]

Is there anywhere someone could point me to where you can get chest and face images that are already scale for minimates?

WW4M