Model Railroading > Anyone with an Alps printer doing decal sheets

Have been trying to get some lettering (all letters/numbers, nothing fancy) done. Is there anyone doing decal sheets on an ALPS printer for a few bucks?

Rob

Answer via PM please.

You don't need and Alps printer anymore. The technology has changed on the decal sheets available and you can use other brands and makes now.

Please explain. What other kind of printer prints white ink?

KG

You are right they don't but there are alternatives to printing white decals like using a white background or painting white on before you run it though the printer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/10 19:28 by wabash2800.

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are right they don't but there are
> alternatives to printing white decals like using a
> white background or painting white on before you
> run it though the printer.


or even print on white background decal paper

wildcat12 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wabash2800 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are right they don't but there are
> > alternatives to printing white decals like using
> a
> > white background or painting white on before
> you
> > run it though the printer.
>
>
> or even print on white background decal paper

Ok, but how will this work for printing say a set of PENN CENTRAL (PC) decals?

Hamler-Henry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wildcat12 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > wabash2800 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > You are right they don't but there are
> > > alternatives to printing white decals like
> using
> > a
> > > white background or painting white on before
> > you
> > > run it though the printer.
> >
> >
> > or even print on white background decal paper
>
> Ok, but how will this work for printing say a set
> of PENN CENTRAL (PC) decals?

on the computer, set the background white, and then set the font type white, I have done decals this way.

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You don't need and Alps printer anymore. The
> technology has changed on the decal sheets
> available and you can use other brands and makes
> now.

This needs some elaboration. The problem is that printers don't print white. If you use transparent decal paper over a white paint background, then it is still necessary to match the color of the car or loco. The same goes for white paper. In this case, the printer doesn't supply the white color but doesn't put ink in white areas. It is still necessary to match colors and that is not easy. The only real solution (not for the faint of heart) is to print the entire car side.

Is there a new solution? We would all like to know.

Warren, why wouldn't you end up with all white?? I like others would sure like to see an
inkjet with white ink. I've talked to several manufacturers and they're surprised there's a
need for such a thing. I have to send out all the mil-spec panel stuff I do that requires
white letters, the rail decals, etc and it's becoming a pain plus making our printer rich.

I, for one, would be extremely reluctant to try to use the "white decal, colored ink" technique for lettering rolling stock unless I were representing restencilled equipment, in which case the color is often a close mismatch anyway.

Supposedly there are white cartridges available for laser printers but I havent found any....Alps is still the best way to go if you need white on clear paper, although alps has announced they are stopping all new sales of the printers that are still being made for the japan market this coming may and inks are being discontinued in may 2015. So we all might be totally sol unless something else comes along

there are other manufactures to Micro dry printing, oki makes one, and there is also another chinese company that makes one.

Flatbed printers have a tank for white ink. While purchasing one of these is a bit out of reach for most fans, there are printing outfit that could output your artwork for you.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Which is exactly why I'm seeking other means.