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Author Topic: How to scale up decal sheets?  (Read 2200 times)

Online Michi

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How to scale up decal sheets?
« on: 05 April 2016, 11:55:59 AM »
The title says it!
I am in the lucky position to have bought a 1/50 scale airliner from a travel agency, that I look forward to upgrade wit a landing gear and (since it is completely without paint and markings) with a new livery for great modern 28mm action on the tabletop.
It would be hard to paint every single window and lettering. Regretfully I have no idea how to make decals, but I am aware that there is a 1/72 decal sheet for the particular plane that I could buy. Perhaps somebody on here does know how to scale up and print such on blank decal sheet or could even do it for me.

Offline flags_of_war

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #1 on: 05 April 2016, 01:53:14 PM »
You would need to scan it in the highest res that you can. Increase the size to what you need and then reprint them. You might lose some detail due to the scan and image scaling though.

Offline OSHIROmodels

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #2 on: 05 April 2016, 05:00:34 PM »
I have no idea about the transfers but please, please, please post photos of the plane  ;D

cheers

James

Online Michi

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #3 on: 05 April 2016, 06:50:32 PM »
I have no idea about the transfers but please, please, please post photos of the plane  ;D

cheers

James

I will, as soon as I start work on it after the current LPL. It´s a Boeing 737...  :D

Offline Westfalia Chris

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #4 on: 05 April 2016, 06:57:18 PM »
The title says it!
I am in the lucky position to have bought a 1/50 scale airliner from a travel agency, that I look forward to upgrade wit a landing gear and (since it is completely without paint and markings) with a new livery for great modern 28mm action on the tabletop.
It would be hard to paint every single window and lettering. Regretfully I have no idea how to make decals, but I am aware that there is a 1/72 decal sheet for the particular plane that I could buy. Perhaps somebody on here does know how to scale up and print such on blank decal sheet or could even do it for me.

You'll possibly have to do a vector version of the design, split it up (since DIY decal sheets usually only come in DIN A4, max, or some colonial nonsense format like Letter or Legal ;) ). The printing part is usually the easiest - get a high-resolution inkjet printer, print the design, seal with gloss varnish and apply.

Offline CompanyB

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #5 on: 07 April 2016, 03:42:56 AM »
It may be easier to just do a high res scan, then auto trace in a vector program.

Alternately you can just redraw the windows/decals and then print out on decal paper.  If you need to print white, you can pop onto our website to ask for a quote since we do this stuff all the time for clients and individuals.  It's actually about the same cost as buying the paper yourself and trying to print it  :) 

I can usually draw up a sheet of decals in a hour or less.

Brent
Company B
Decal Request Form:
http://company-b-models-and-miniatures.myshopify.com/pages/custom-decal-design

Online Michi

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #6 on: 07 April 2016, 06:12:00 AM »
Thank you Chris. This sounds good but technically challenging to me...

It may be easier to just do a high res scan, then auto trace in a vector program.

Alternately you can just redraw the windows/decals and then print out on decal paper.  If you need to print white, you can pop onto our website to ask for a quote since we do this stuff all the time for clients and individuals.  It's actually about the same cost as buying the paper yourself and trying to print it  :) 

I can usually draw up a sheet of decals in a hour or less.

Brent
Company B
Decal Request Form:
http://company-b-models-and-miniatures.myshopify.com/pages/custom-decal-design

Thank you Brent, most helpful! I suppose this will be my way. :D

Offline Westfalia Chris

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #7 on: 07 April 2016, 12:24:06 PM »
Thank you Chris. This sounds good but technically challenging to me...

I'd be happy to create some of the basic elements like windows, doors and the like if you can provide some measurements. Drop me a PM and we'll see what we can do.

More complex shapes (hull striping and the like) may be tricky. If you've got a pic of the original plane livery I might be able to be more specific.

Online Michi

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Re: How to scale up decal sheets?
« Reply #8 on: 07 April 2016, 02:10:52 PM »
I'd be happy to create some of the basic elements like windows, doors and the like if you can provide some measurements. Drop me a PM and we'll see what we can do.

More complex shapes (hull striping and the like) may be tricky. If you've got a pic of the original plane livery I might be able to be more specific.

PMed!  ;)

 

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