"decals with laser printer" Topic

I have been getting good results with my cheap inkjet printer, but have been wondering whether I would get better results using a copy shop laser printer at 60-70c per copy (or less). I am expecting brighter colours, although I expect that clear has to be on white surface. I would bring in the file ready to be printed

Any one any experience ? Would the copy shop run a half sheet ?

No chance of damaging copy shop machine ….. :(

Does the decal paper make any difference ? I have even heard a rumor that it all comes from the same place …

Used Megahobby decal paper ?

Bare metal foil (sold by hobbylinc for instance) paper ?

I have been using testors ink jet paper and it doesn't seem to take the black ink very well – anyone seen the same ? This is a cheap Epson printer that uses Ultrachrome inks

Thanks

John

I've used their decal material with inkjets, and never had an issue.

You want to ensure the highest quality print setting, and they recommend a new, or near full ink cartridge for the best results.

Can't say on the laserjets at copy shops, but suspect they may be leery of damaging their expensive machines.

Lasers need different paper (inkjet paper will melt onto the fuser module….) I suspect Mako's right that most copy shops would be less than keen on touching it.

(As for paper coming from the same place, that may well be right for the actual *paper* but most definitely isn't for the decal film, which is the important bit. I've never used Bare Metal Foil's paper, but it has an *excellent* reputation compared to many brands.)

I've heard of people successfully lasering decals at the local copyshop before. I went to the expense of buying my own desktop laser, and I get very good results from that, compared to inkjet (so far).

The biggest advantage I've found to date is simply the fact that laser paper seems to be thinner than that used for inkjets. And of course, with inks you need to hit them fairly heavily with varnish before they are dipped in water. Just a single layer of varnish is sufficient for laser toner.

Laser printers work differently. Inkjets spit liquid ink at the paper. Lasers use electro static discharge to temporarily stick toner to the paper and then the toner is melted with high heat by the "fuser."

That's why you can't use the same transparency material (for overhead projectors) in both printers and why some inkjet papers when used in a laser come out looking like a potato chip.

Do NOT put any material in laser that is not specifically for that purpose.

Years ago I took a disk and laser decal paper to a copy center. I explained what I had and what I wanted, they were eager to help. The laser decal paper worked fine and the decals came out okay.

You may just want to visit a copy center and explain what you want. They can tell you if they're willing to help etc. Kevin