Inkjet decals

[Bruce_Crosby]

Hi Guys,

 

I’ve got some clear inkjet decal paper to make some items for a couple of models I’m building.  I know they need to be sealed with a varnish but which varnish?  It needs to be good enough to seal for the time it’s in the water, hold off decal setting liquids and still not bleed inkjet colour all over the model.

 

So does anyone have a suitable varnish in mind?

 

Regards,

 

Bruce Crosby

[Phartycr0c]

I use Tamiya rattle cans, either semi gloss or matt varnish in two or three very thin coats letting the sheet dry thoroughly between coats.Dont overdo the varnish as the decals will become brittle. Ask me how I know. 

 

There really is no specific varnish, its used simply to seal the ink onto the decal paper and stop it dispersing in water, ask me how I know. 

 

Application is in the usual way, onto a smooth / glossy surface, but make sure you seal them in with a further coat of varnish as they can be a little delicate. 

 

Hope this makes sense

 

 

 

[Bruce_Crosby]

Thanks for the answer. So I could just use a normal acrylic modellers gloss like Tamiya or Gunze thru the airbrush?  Might just run the printer tomorrow and see what happens!

 

Regards,

 

Bruce Crosby

[LSP_K2]

I'd seal it with Testors crystal clear lacquer, but that's just me.

[MikeMaben]

I use a product specifically designed for sealing decals.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microscale-Liquid-Decal-Film-1fl-oz/dp/B0006O9K5G

 

Brush on a coat , do not try to eliminate brush marks as they will disappear.

Dries in about 10 minutes then do another coat.

 

 

[Mark M]

i make my own serials all the time, normal ACRYLIC varnish is fine, i bought a vallejo matt rattle can and use that, never had a problem with it

 

1  - print the decal

2 -  let it dry for an hour

3 -  thin coat of varnish

4 -  leave for an hour

5  - another this time slightly thicker coat

6  - leave over night

7  - use the decal