SO....here it is, This is how I do 99% of my labels. I wish to thank Mike Barkley for converting it to a PDF file for me. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. FYI this and all my decals are made on an Epson Color R200 inkjet. When I bought this printer new years ago, it cost me $88. They are up to a R280 now and you can get it on newegg for $75.

[cabochonrods.com]

Mike did ask about its durability in the sun. I haven't been making them long enough to say that after 5 years it will still look great. That being said, I have inkjet prints on my wall that I made back in 1997ish time frame that gets sunlight daily. I realize inks change and it's not a fishing rod. In the year or so that I have been making them, I have never had one complaint about them and I have never had anyone return a rod to me with a faded label.

This isn't meant to take business away from places like Decal Connection. It's merely an option. I can't make chrome or shiny gold labels like they can print...but I really do like the way these look like the label was weaved or made with thread.

Dave
[www.cabochonrods.com]

Dave;
Well done I don't do my own but really injoyed the info.
Thanks for putting it together

Dave,
That's a fine tutorial. Thanks for sharing the technique. I'll give it a try.

This is a very good tutorial that I will keep with all my other reference material. Thank You for sharing.

Scott

Well done David!
I notice you use a solid background. Have to had any success with clear backgrounds
and dark or light colored text?

BTW, I like the way the thread bed seams to add texture to the fish. I have always
applied directly to the blank without a thread bed. Most of my results have not been
what I was hoping for.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Raymond, I have used clear backgrounds with black text over a wrap I did. I didn't care for the results. The black just seems to blend in with most blanks. When I did use the clear, I had a thin coat of epoxy over the thread and it worked fairly well...It just didn't look as good.

Thanks David,
The problem I have is probably with my printer (HP laser jet) no matter what color font I use with
a clear background the ink is not heavy enough to even being close to opaque. The decal
looks great until I remove the backing and then I seam to have an enirely CLEAR decal
in my tweezers! Close inspection can see some color but if I apply it even that color disappears.

Of course white font with dark background gets me clear test and that works pretty good on light
blanks. As we all know, most blanks are not light.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Excellent job David, and could not come at a better time for me; I've been working with decals all weekend. A lot of great info in your tutorial.

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

Raymond, if you have a laser jet, I have a link for you! I have even considered buying one so I can use this info and product. It alows you to make a dry transfer label in many colors...even metallics. Check it out, it may solve your issues.

Dave

[www.pulsarprofx.com]

David - great job. We've been doing our own and this is great stuff!

Raymond - make sure you're setting your inkjet up for color transparencies. Also, you hae to be using the correct "paper". For example, some of the kits that are sold specifically say that inkjets will not work on them, only the wax inks. Some don't, but they still work that way, so ask first.

This is goingin our archives.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Ray,

Do you have a laser or injet printer?? A Laser Jet is a laser printer

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Good question Mike,
I thought it was a laser jet. However, it seams I was wrong.
I can't find my HP book but the HP site discribes the cartriges
as "inkjet" so my HP PSC 750 must me an Inkjet.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

That's what I thought! HP used to call their Ink Jets "Laser Jets" and it was pretty confusing Laser printers use dry toner, not ink. The ink jets are now called Desk Jets

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

David, great job! That one's been saved! Thanks alot!

Hi David. Great job!

The question I have, is how well does the decal hold up as far as fading? I've always heard that the inks don't hold up well to UV's

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Doug,
See below


David Rogers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> Mike did ask about its durability in the sun. I
> haven't been making them long enough to say that
> after 5 years it will still look great. That being
> said, I have inkjet prints on my wall that I made
> back in 1997ish time frame that gets sunlight
> daily. I realize inks change and it's not a
> fishing rod. In the year or so that I have been
> making them, I have never had one complaint about
> them and I have never had anyone return a rod to
> me with a faded label.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2007 08:23PM by Raymond_Adams.

Thanks Ray. That's what I get for just hitting the link and not finish reading the rest of the post.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

David Rogers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Raymond, if you have a laser jet, I have a link
> for you! I have even considered buying one so I
> can use this info and product. It alows you to
> make a dry transfer label in many colors...even
> metallics. Check it out, it may solve your
> issues.
>
> Dave
>
> [www.pulsarprofx.com]
> U/1b_Overview/Overview.html

You do not need a laser printer. You can also use a copy machine, but I have had poor success getting the special paper through the machine during a dry Minnesota winter.

I've been making my own dry transfers with the Pulsar system for about a year (photos in my gallery). It worked really well at first, but now I'm having trouble with a dirty laser printer. Check out the website. It's an option, but I plan on spending some time chatting with Decal Connection at Highpoint. :) They were having trouble with the files from my graphics guy and I got frustrated and purchased the Pulsar system. Life would be simpler if I had a sheet of their decals.

David - thanks for the tutorial! Very cool. I have some decal paper so I'll try it. The thread gives it an interesting look.

Chuck



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2007 02:22PM by Chuck Mills.

The link doesn't work anymore

Here's the new link: [decalprofx.com]

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane