Best LaserJet Decal Paper?

tn_prvteye · Post by **tn_prvteye** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:24 pm

I finally purchased a Brother LaserJet Printer, and I'm looking for some good, clear Decal Paper to use with it.

I bought some Papilio decal sheets, but when I got them in the mail, they were all stuck together and impossible to separate without tearing.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like something that doesn't require a clear-coat (I've had bad luck using clear-coats with inkjet paper).

I've got a 1/1400 Ambassador class that needs some Aztecing...

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:32 pm

I've been ordering from decalpaper.com and haven't had a problem. Their laser decal paper have tissue on each sheet to keep them separate. Tear off the tissue sheet before you put it in the printer.

tn_prvteye · Post by **tn_prvteye** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 2:50 pm

Excellent, thanks for the suggestions...ordering now.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:07 pm

And you do still need to use a clear coat. The problem you had with clear coat with ink jet wasn't the clear coat, it was the ink. What probably happened was that you put the clear on too thick, or too soon after printing, or maybe both, and it softened the ink, right?

Go with a few lighter coats on the laser sheet and build it up. It doesn't need to be very thick though...just enough to seal the artwork.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:08 pm

And you do still need to use a clear coat. The problem you had with clear coat with ink jet wasn't the clear coat, it was the ink. What probably happened was that you put the clear on too thick, or too soon after printing, or maybe both, and it softened the ink, right?

Go with a few lighter coats on the laser sheet and build it up. It doesn't need to be very thick though...just enough to seal the artwork.

tn_prvteye · Post by **tn_prvteye** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:46 pm

Well, I had both problems. Too think, too thin...you name it. I tried airbrushing, rattle-cans...everything I tried turned to crap.

I tried straight Future, and Testors Decal-Bonder. What do you recommend? I paint using Enamels, BTW.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:36 pm

I use Krylon Clear Gloss. Use clothes pins to clip the sheet to a piece of cardboard and spray from about half an arm's length. Just mist it over the sheet. Let sit for a few minutes and go a second or third time if necessary. Don't worry if it's not totally smooth because you're going to be dullcoting the finished model later anyway.

tn_prvteye · Post by **tn_prvteye** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:20 am

Thanks again for the tips...I'll give it a shot.