"Paper for 15mm flags" Topic

I have designed 15mm flags for WSS but I am interested to find the best paper to use for them. I went to Staples to have them printed in color. My first batch turned out fine but I thought the paper was a bit thick. Does anyone here have a recommendation concerning paper thickness?

Cheers!

Gallo

I print it on my home printer but using recycled paper.
Recycled paper is somewhat thinner and easier to fold, it has some texture, although it is grayish, but that also gives it a raw white appearance (or so I want to think)
I did experiments with photographic paper, but it doesn't work, it breaks when you try to bend it around the mast.

I've had good luck with Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte. It's thicker than the Inkjet printer paper I normally use but I've never had a problem with it breaking.

Gallo, please let us know if you post your flags or plan to sell them. Thanks.

I'm with Acronim. I found some 15# bright white recycled paper that works great with my Canon inkjet. These are 10mm miniatures. IMHO, most pre-printed flag sheets end up looking like scale-thick cardboard advertisements.

+1 Epson premium presentation

It's coated on one side, so you get really bright image on that side, without it being as thick as photo paper

John

Depends on what type of printer you are using.

Inkjets are more tolerant of paper quality as the ink penetrates the surface but most inks will smudge or run if wetted too much – limiting the adhesive you can use. Paper thickness is actually more important than weight but is rarely specified. I'd still say 80-100gsm is the range you are best using. You can get away with coated papers using an inkjet but they can still crack if folded dry; model the flag shape while the adhesive is wet and you will avoid problems.

Lasers are my choice and using coated papers is bad news for laser printed flags as the toner fuses to the surface coating making it more likely to crack on folding. I use 90gsm for all my products and choose a high quality hot pressed paper with medium sizing and no coating. PVA is my adhesive of choice but avoid the thin 'craft' types as they have too much water, I use builders' PVA.

In either case avoid photo papers, generally too thick and coated. I find recycled paper has too coarse a surface for a good image.

Thank to all for ideas about paper flags. Since I don't have a printer (don't want the headaches that go with maintaining them), I always get all my stuff printed at the local Staples. I will find out about the papers mentioned, if they are available. They use high definition laser printers.

Robert Burke, so far I have designed only a few WSS flags for some British and French units in 15mm. I design in Illustrator and Photoshop. I still have a few Dutch flags to design but am ready to go to print with the French Guards and a few infantry regiments that have flags that are hard to paint (fleur de lis, heraldry, etc!).

Cheers!

Gallo

I've had good results with 32-lb. paper on a Canon printer. I've always sprayed with a satin- finish spray acrylic to avoid the chance of bleeding when the figs are varnished.

Gallocelt

Would it not be easier (and probably cheaper) to buy printed flags ?

I do a range covering a fair number of units.

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Ancien Regime French
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Tony of TTT

I have had great success with Hammermill Color Laser Gloss, 32lb, 94 brightness. Although it is labeled for laser, it works just fine in my Canon TS9520 inkjet printer.

No problems with wrapping it around the pole or in folding it.

Tom

Hello Gildas Facit,

I'm pretty sure you're right about buying painted flags. It would be cheaper and easier. I did have a look at the WSS flags at your site and was very impressed.

I guess I just like the challenge of designing my own. Sometimes I have to search (the internet) high and low for the flag of a specific regiment. Still, once I create the files, I can tweak the colors and make small changes so the things work better. I also have a tendency to make my flags a little bigger than they would be in scale.

Cheers!

Gallo

Hi Gallo
I understand that, that's how I started. When I started painting armies for others I often found the commercial offers in 6 & 10mm were not that good so did my own to use on my commissions.
You are not alone in liking oversized flags, which is why I offer a range of sizes rather than say they are for a particular figure size/scale.
Tony of TTT