"Who makes the most realistic looking 15mm AWI flags?" Topic

I know there are multiple print your own sites, but who makes the best 15mm flags for sale? My printer is good, but not good enough.

In the alternative, if I wanted to paint my own, any suggestions for materials or related hints?

Thank you,

Redcoat 55

Modern home printers are generally very good. It is the quality of the paper that matters most. Try a high res matt paper, it should result in both sharp and vibrant detail, particularly in the reds and yellows.

In the UK, the high street store Rymans sells high res papers of around 100 – 120gm in weight. I would avoid photo papers as the whites look too harsh and the paper too stiff to work with.

A copy shop could do your file on a laser printer, so you get a better 'waterproof' result when gluing or washing – but again it is the paper that they start with that matters most.

I believe that commercial flags are painted / drawn large and then reduced down in size (iether by scanner or camera). This 'tightening' has the effect of losing some minor error and also increases vibrancy (so if doing your own flags this way, in some instances the original colours may need to a tone lighter). I would use a watercolour paper but one that has a smooth face. Artist quality rather than student quality paint give the richer and best coverage. Watercolour paint can give a nice shading effect as light washes can be built up. Acrylics give more control from the point of view that they are easier to overpaint mistakes and correct sharp lines etc.

If you want to paint directly to the figure so to speak, I suppose it depend on the complexity of the flag and how good a painter you are for fine detail as to whether you could consistently get a good result – I think relatively few people can do that.

I love Flagdudes stuff, if you can get it. :-)

Spot on with the laser. Only one color inkjet prints waterproof (I think Epson but it might be Lexmark?)

As an aside, there are decal sheets available for you to use. It is VERY difficult to find anything that prints white anymore, however.

Maybe if you ask Graham at GMB Designs, he could reduce some of his 28mm flags down scale for use with 15mm figures. Or you could buy the GMB flags and reduce them yourself on a copier machine.

I now paint all my own flags, they look great, much better than any printed flag you can buy.

Steps:
I print out the flag using the old ink jet.
I glue it to the flag pole and shape as required. Using watered down PVC white glue
Wait for it to dry and then its a simple matter of painting over the ink.

I have used paper and ink jet silk. the silk gives a cloth like finish to the flag, but takes more effort to shape while drying

GMB might well do them in 15mm if enough people request them.

Thank you gentlemen. Wow, I had never heard of ink jet silk before. I have a Kodak photo printer and had tried using bright white paper. Is that the same as high resolution paper?