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Mixing colours with white |
white TRF with laser print colours.
One of the more inconvenient restrictions presented by DecalPRO is the inability to mix white TRF Foil and colour laser print for one application. While it is inconvenient it is by no means impossible as it is relatively easy to resolve by looking at the image you want to reproduce, separate the white from the colour elements, and build the image in layers that will overlay each other to make the image.
I produce artwork for Graham Buchanan of Tiger Models and one of his projects (Summer Winter 2008) was a very large
F4U-5N Corsair decorated with the cameo of Guy Bordelon from the Korean War. The aircraft was a night fighter and Bordelon was in a group who had affectionately called themselves "Team Dog". His aircraft had a very exotic lady for nose art called "Annie-Mo" painted on the starboard side of the engine cowl. Here is how I built the image to work with Decal PRO. Material used cost less than £1.00!
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Breaking down the image.The image sits on a light powder blue background with white text for "Annie-Mo" but also incorporating white elements in the character itself. The rocket, eyes and mouth are white so will clearly make the basis for the first layer.
Next I need to add the skin tone as a separate layer to the Sarong like dress. This is necessary because the white rocket would cause issues if I tried to overlay the skin tone colour without a white backing. If you think about it the white of the rocket would show through the colour toner and ruin the affect of the rocket sat on her shoulder. So this is the second layer.
The final colour layer would be the Sarong. So we have 3 slide in total to make up this decal. |
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Separating the layers.I produce all my artwork in vector graphic format which makes it relatively easy to separate the various elements that will make up the final image.
Layer 1. Printed in Black toner we have the image that will be coloured with the White TRF Pigment foil. The rocket, eyes, and text are printed on the same sheet.
Layer 2. The body is printed in colour reversed because it is going to be pigmented the #1226 White on the back before it is applied. This slide also includes the shading on the rocket and the red cap of the missile.
Layer 3. The colour printed Sarong. |
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PreparationThe cowl is painted and finished with the required colours as shown opposite.
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Layer 1The first layer is coloured with the White Pigment Foil before fixing it to the surface.
The decal was allowed to dry overnight before a light clear lacquer was sprayed over the decal area to seal the first layer down. This is done to prevent the white lifting when the Mylar of the next layer is removed.
You should NEVER fix one decal directly over a previous layer without sealing the first layer down with a fine spray lacquer. |
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Layer 2The body image was coloured with the White TRF and then reversed (just like the Apple logo on the demo video) before fixing to the surface.
It is important to have a steady hand while installing these decals to make sure the layers overlap perfectly. I was going to use alignment crosses on each slide, but opted to align the layers by sight as I felt more confident.
Again the decal was allowed to dry overnight before receiving a light powder coat spray of clear lacquer. |
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Layer 3.The final element was a straight colour print decal fixing the Sarong into position.
That's the finished decal. For protection it will receive a final clear lacquer coat (as will all the whole model) to offer some protection to the artwork.
To see a large version of the decal installed, please click here.
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