Expert: Glen Demers - 8/16/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I do not know if this question is something that you can help with , but thought I would give it a shot.  I am working on creating decals that are printed on water slide decal paper.  I started with creating the graphics in my photoshop program with a 300pxi resolution.
I set the printer on best quality and when using the decals certain colors seemed to be transparent.  I did some online searching and found one spot that said you should create the graphics with 700pxi.  This helped some but some of the colors seem to still be translucent when you put the decals on objects.  Would it help to raise the resolution even more?  Any help would be appreciated or links to sites that may help.  Thank you.
Teresa

ANSWER: Hi Teresa,

The transparency is in the inks. In a commercial print shop we can put down a base of opaque white ink first but this is not possible on an inkjet printer. It may help to print those colors twice put you may run into registration problems. You can try a 'second hit' composed of a duplicate Photoshop document with all colors deleted except the problem ones. Make sure the sheet is dry before running it through again.
I would try looking at the decal paper manufacturers website or your printers website for possible answers to this problem.
Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more Photoshop tips please visit our help pages here


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Glen,

That makes sense.  I have done decals before that worked fine but they were applied to models that were painted light colors.  The ones I am working on now are to be applied to models that are painted darker colors and so my decals are looking washed out or certain colors like yellow aren't showing up at all.  I will try your suggestion.
Teresa

Answer
Teresa,
You could try printing on standard white pressure sensitive decal paper - macbac or starlite - but this would require careful trimming and the application would be trickier. Leave some of the backing in place until the decal is in position then stick it down and remove the rest of the backing. I don't know if they make a white water slide decal paper.
Good Luck!
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more Photoshop tips please visit our help pages here