I tried to make decals by photocopying onto a sheet of clear decal paper. Even if this process proved conclusive, there remains an obstacle of size: how to print in white ?

I thought that I’ve found a solution by reading the March 1995 edition of the magazine "Hobby Japan" which shows how to make decals by printing transfers (instant lettering transfer). If this process is easy and inexpensive in Japan, it is not the same in France where this process is non-existent.

So all my projects were on stand-by until I found an acceptable solution in terms of both quality and cost.

The answer came last year in an article in the magazine "Car Modelling Manual" Vol 9 where Mr Kenichi NOMOTO explained how he printed Marlboro decals for the 1/20 Tamiya’s Ferrari F1-2000 with a ALPS printer: exactly what I was looking for!!

Another original feature of this printer is that it prints in several layers. The various colours are applied one after the other. In recovery mode, this functionality allow you to personalize the print to your needs (this stage is detailed a little later).

This printer costs 654 €HT (4300FF before Taxes) and the cartridges costs between 50 and 110 FF. Although the cost is higher than an "equivalent" inkjet printer it remains accessible. In all ways, it is the only solution that is offered to modellers for printing quality decals.

Being in possession of a printer and decal paper, I can now make my own decals.

I decided to make two types of decals: an original design sheet (produced without 1:1 reference) and a sheet that reproduces a real vehicle. With these two examples, I would experiment in two different ways. With a scanned picture, I would make a simple reproduction and adapt it to a model. To some extent I would be creating a quite unique model that doesn’t exist in reality where only the creative process counts. In the other case the goal is quite different, approaching a modelers usual objective: I want to accurately reproduce a model.

So I have chosen to make

"Daft Punk" Ferrari 360 Modena

Why this model? Firstly, I was looking for pictures, which have several complexities of production. The principle is that "you can always simplify", so I sought out something difficult to make for a first project in order to better understand/comprehend the problems inherent in printing decals.

By looking at the small sleeve of "Daft Punk"’s last album "Discovery", I noted that the logos (see below) were particularly interesting. On the one hand the logos are white on a black background, that is to say that they should be cut to applied them on a black background. Then by superimposing white logos over the black, I can check the opacity of the white printing. Moreover, the logos are complex so they represent a particularly interesting exercise...

Having done so, the bitmap images must be converted into vector images, breaking the picture into elementary objects. Indeed, working with vector objects, it is easier to determine the colours, to cut them, to modify their form and to modify the size.

And here is the final result.

Once the drawings worked under Corel Draw, we can create our decal sheet.

By grouping the various objects into a single object, we can duplicate several instances

To be able to print in white, it is necessary to copy all the objects to a new page, and to change the colour of them all into black. This will make it possible to use white printing like a primer

Before printing the decals on expensive decal paper, I check the size of the drawing by printing a "normal" paper copy and test-fitting the pictures to the model.

Then we can then commence printing of our decals by configuring/customising the OKI printer DP-5000 in the following way:

One starts by printing page 2 (the black drawings) in white ink by selecting the option " single color". Selected paper is "cardboard".

Don’t forget to select the "recovery" option.

Then print page 2 only. We repeat printing page 2 in white in order to increase the opacity of the white. But to avoid damaging the first print, one prints with a luminosity of 30%, selected in the "Image Parameters" tab. Do not forget to select the "recovery" option again because it does not remain in memory after each impression

Now print page 1 - the "color" layer. I use "standard color" quality for the print and select "Graphics" for the type of impression.

The "recovery" option must be selected once more.

Moreover, to increase the density of impression and to decrease the frame, I increase the saturation of the colour’s balance by 50%.

To finish the print, I apply a layer of varnished Finish II.

Here is the result after printing

I did not have time to apply the decals to the model yet but when it is done, you will find a photograph on this page. The only question to answer is whether or not the transfer will resist the polyurethane clear coat.

Here’s a scan of the printed decals.

Truck Ferrari F1 - 1994.

I based myself on photographs that I had taken on the track of Le Castellet in July 1994. It was just before the GP of Germany and Jean Alesi tested the new air intakes of the engine cowling.

I’ve downloaded directly vectorized logos on Internet, which allows to work directly under Corel Draw (here the Ferrari horse)

Then, we can create our decal sheet while being ensured of the good size of the logos.

As previously, I create a page in black and a page for the color impression