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Make Your Own Decals


ruzlkampf

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Howdy Everybody! :) I'm going to start a comprehensive thread on how to make your own decals as simply and inexpensively as I know how. Probably turn into zillion page odyssey as I'm much too much of a blabber-mouth, and certainly no teacher......I'm a dummy! :P I would like to invite the resident experts stop by to add any input and experiences they've had doing decals, as there is a hundred different ways of doing this....and they'd all be correct for getting the results one would be hoping to achieve.

This 'tutorial' will include messing things up every step of the way, every way I know how, to not only show WHAT to do and HOW to do it.....but also the reason why NOT to do things. Sound like fun!!!???? Participation will be encouraged, as everybody has a different knowledge base and experiences with different printers/scanners/editing programs that others in different parts of the world haven't been exposed to. Also, as I go along I might rush over something that I assume everybody knows. I do tend to ramble. Just give a shout for me to put things on 'pause' and go back to explain something that isn't clear or clarification is needed, eh?!

Because I'll be starting with basics, I'm going to be using the cheapest flat-bed scanner I have(this is handy, but optional).....an inexpensive desktop inkjet printer (yes I'll be explaining the pros/cons and differences between inkjet and laser-jet) and using Microsoft Paint program that comes on every PC free (AFAIK). Also discussing the different types of papers and printer settings, and limitations of doing decals yourself. Those with 'Illustrator' and 'Photoshop' will probably find this a bit basic and boring, but any novices out there wanting to try their hand at this, without spending a fortune, will probably be interested in getting some basic info. Without having to go thru an expensive learning curve! ;)

I'm going to be showing how I create,edit, and print some basic markings for my BF-110G-4 build to begin with. It is the perfect candidate to show how to size and scale simple markings like crosses,serial numbers, kill markings, and whatever else I can think to screw up. Then I'm going to up the ante and show how I go about doing the markings for my SR-71, which will be a bit more advanced....but perfect for showing the limitations of what can be done (and how to get around that). Whoohoo!

Give me a day to come up with a game plan on how to present all this info using screenshots and pics, and still staying within the limitations of the 800x600 pixel/100kb limitations of posting. This won't be as much of a tutorial, as a step-by-step with a lot of intentional missteps to show ya'll how to tap-dance thru the minefield of potential frustrations. Let me scram now and start gathering images of the first steps to making some markings for this 110. I want to go all the way from conception to printing, so I'll start with creating and sizing first. Be back later on tonight, or first thing tomorrow with some pics! Later, Russ

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Russ,

Thank God! At last. I have been hearing about this black art but couldn't find any simple/easy/definitive explanation or instructions.

Please keep it simple mate, turned 51 recently and grey cells are reducing rapidly.

 

Phil

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Russ,

Please keep it simple mate, turned 51 recently and grey cells are reducing rapidly.

 

Phil

 

Hate to tell you this Phil but l am 49 and l beat you to it mine are completely gone :hi:

 

yes l am interested too Russ at the moment l have two printers one Lexmark black laser printer (great for resumes) and just got a HP photosmart 1215 printer. l know its an older model but it was hardly used and its was free only need to get the inks and l can at least try to print my own decals.

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Hey Russ,

 

This should be interesting. Its most helpful to have a tutorial on this, especially using all the gear people mostly have at home. You're far too humble though. It might also benefit the wider audience and also our guests to understand your depth of experience in this area and how you are quite comfortable doing this with much more expensive software, scanners and printing equipment.

 

Cheers Matty

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Whooohoo! Now this is what I'm talking about,....a little participation! Thanks Matty, you've brought up some interesting points. The hardest part about putting together this step-by-step so far has been getting everything down to something so basic, anybody can do it. I've already learned a lot of new stuff already putting this presentation together just by NOT using all the plotters/scanners/ fancy editing software/ and specialized equipment I have at my disposal to shortcut my way thru things and save a bit of time. I was going to start out with explaining the pixel, resolutions, and other really basic stuff to help understand the process, but it soon got bogged down into writing a book on directions for using Paint and more technical jargon than ya'll wanna hear.

Everybody just wants to see how I make decals without a lot of fancy stuff, right?! I'm just going to start, and as I go along everyone can just ask questions as it comes to them or it'll take days to get started. I'll be back on tonight after I get my pics in order for posting. Stay tuned, eh?!

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Thank you! :popcorn: I have come to a point where I have decided that the decal printers

are not going to give me what I want in 1/32, so I have no choice but to scan

1/48 decals and covert them to the 'superior' scale. I will be following with the

greatest of interest! :popcorn:

 

Thanks again......

 

- Patrick

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Warning, warning! This is only a test, in the case of an actual event happening everybody whoulda been notified. Let's get this show on the road, eh? Been working on my format to see what works, and what goes POOF up in flames. Think I got something here that is very visible and doesn't take up a lot of file space, so ya'll tell me what you think,OK? This has been like making a 'parody of a parody', as I've been having to edit/size/crop....everything I would normally do to make decals.....to make a tutorial of making decals! :) OK, I've confused everybody more than I am already I see? ^_^

Active participation is encouraged here, and if anybody has a different way of doing something....please feel free to steal this thread and post any/all pics you want. This will be a 'meeting of the minds' so to say. We're all dumbies here.....but proud.

OK, I see theres somebody interrupting class back there using profane language like 'numpty line'. Tsk tsk, Derek....put on that little pointy hat over there and go sit in the corner until you learn how to behave yourself. Sheesh.

I have a flat-bed scanner that I can use later on Patrick to show how to use paint to re-size those scans for templates to make the markings. Not everybody here has a scanner,...so I'm going to be taking baby-steps for the first few pages.

You got any ideas with question marks attached,....feel free to ask Dan. This isn't going to be a perfect linear step by step. My natural inclination is too ramble anyway....so I won't even notice.

Alright! Let's take this boat out for a test cruise. Sitting here scratching my punkin-head going duuuuuhh,....where to begin? OK, we might be dumb....but we're not disorganized right? So the first thing you want to do is make a folder to put all your pretty drawings in where they won't get mixed up with your tax receipts or porn collection.....oh uhm errrrh I mean pics of your girlfriend/wife/dog....ooooh whatever. Can be on your desktop, or anywhere you feel comfortable. We don't want to stress you out here. Label it something as it comes to you,.....I'm a dumby and forget easily....so I called mine something original like 'decal images'. Hey, we're cooking with gas now, eh?! Stick with me here, by the end of this first lesson....you'll know how to make a blank page. Whoohoo!

But I digress; Now that you have a folder let's work on getting something into it. Does everybody know how to open the paint program on their PC? Hey, I gotta ask. :lol: If not, well go to the back of the class and sit next to that guy with the little pointy hat in the corner and see if he knows.(just kidding Derek! :lol: ) Just ask if ya'll don't know OK, and we'll help ya out. It's in your programs somewhere....usually under 'accessories'. Once opened, we get to sit in front of this screen and ponder what our next move will be. This will be my format until I come up with something better. I'm almost done babbling here, so quit yer squirming. Just like any drawing, we need a piece of paper. Not just any scrap of paper, oooh no. We want something the size of our decal paper preferably. Why? You can't scale something out without a baseline of some sorts.....something that can be measured. Standard paper sizes in my neck of the woods are 8.5x11 inches(called 'A'size) , and 11x17inches (called 'B' size). Other parts of the world have a metric size system, and you'll be using an A-4 size paper that roughly equates to my 'A' size....or A-3 size which roughly is about the size of my 'B' size paper. If ya'll want these metric sizes in millimeters let me know. I'm a dumby and forgot to write it down. :huh:

Let's open paint and get a canvas that equates to those sizes. Here's what you do first;

 

 

 

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OK, that doesn't look too bad....i think we can work with this! Next step is to check out our menu. I've noticed that different versions of Paint have different resolutions. AFAIK these are not adjustable.....and THAT'S OK! My version at work is 81pixels per inch, but 68 will do just fine. This is one of the things I wanted to elaborate on explaining, but that would be boooooring. All we need to know is that the Photoshop and Illustrator guys can adjust this to higher/lower levels to get finer or larger images than we can produce here. No prob. Our settings are just fine for the sizes of drawings we'll be making for 1/32nd scale on our common sizes of paper. We're cool.

This is where you measure your decal paper and set the sizes in these boxes. In inches or metric. What we're doing here is making our canvas the same size as our decal paper....making it very easy to just print out our final images at a simple %100. Other reasons will become VERY apparent as we move on.

 

 

 

post-4413-1267340258.jpg

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Your virtual piece of paper is now showing up as white as the size you set it. Can everyone see where this makes it a LOT easier to visualize how big/small your images are that you're drawing/importing from a scan are? We now have a solid measurement to scale with.....and that will make percentages much easier to guesstimate without all those frustrating multiple attempts. Whatever I draw on this canvas will print out exactly the same size as the piece of paper I have it set for. That will be later on tonight.

These are baby steps for right now,....but things will start steamrolling faster and faster as this lesson continues. We only have a blank piece of paper so far? My friends, we've just laid the base of the pyramid....and the foundation of our work! Congratulations! :lol:

OK, you can come out of your corner now Derek and join the rest of the class.....it's break time. :) This is only a test of the format I'm going to be using, and I wanted to see if everything was visible as I'm going to be zooming in/out a lot while taking pics....blah blah. Let me round up the next set of images and start screwing stuff up with some color. I've got a ream of 500 sheets of paper to burn thru showing ya'll how to get some basic markings from scratch. Talk to ya'll later on tonight! later, Russ

 

 

 

post-4413-1267341347.jpg

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Please Sir,

Can I go pee now???

Russ,

This is exactly what us numpties need, very clear and simple!

If it helps A4 in the UK and Europe is 21cm x 29.6cm and commercial decal film is available in this size.

Phil

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Dadgummit Phil, I told you to quit drinking beer in class!!! :lol: There'll be homework on this assignment for pennance...and dude, go get a haircut..you trying to be some kind of hippy?! Kids. :huh: Verily, thou hast redeemed yourself in thine teachers eyes with class participation, and there won't be a pointy hat or a stool in the corner for you this time. You get a GOLDEN STAR! :lol: I'm so proud,.....sniff...I think I'm going to cry. :) heh heh, always wanted to use that emoticon. Alright Phil! I have now dubbed you 'European Consultant' and you get to move to the head of the class. That troublemaker Derek would do well to emulate such outstanding and sterling behavior. You are on the path to be the teachers pet.

But I digress; Alright class, stop the spitball fight and drawing those lewd pictures on the chalkboard....we've got some buttons to learn how to push. Before recess we left off with a blank paper. Now I'm going to show you some 'tricks of the trade' and marvel everyone with a few epiphanys. We're going to show those snobby nerds with Photoshop and Illustrator we're just as good using rocks to pound hunks of obsidian into arrowheads. We're slow and dumb....but we'll get there eventually, eh?!

Now we ain't got no stinking scanner like those 'fancy-pants' big buck dudes, so we'll improvise. I need some code letters on my fuse side that read 'G9+AM. Here's what you do first;

 

 

 

post-4413-1267352438.jpg

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