I thought it would be a great idea to be able to create my own decals. So I just bought some water-slide decal paper to be able to create/fix/replace some dial scales and logos. ( I bought both clear and white decal paper)

However, all is not as easy as it seems when the need arose.

I am working on a Howard 225 and the clear dial glass has white lettering on the back of the glass. The pointer is behind the glass and then behind the pointer is a flat black metal background.

When I removed the glass I noticed the lettering practically falling off the glass. I didn't dare touch it as it flaked off like dry powder.

I figured this would be a good first test candidate for my new decal printing material.

So I scanned it into Photoshop at a relatively high 300-dpi resolution and worked on all the little lines and numerals for 2 or 3 hours to make it look just perfect again.

But when I decided to print it out it struck me that there is an unsurmountable problem here.

I needed to apply the decal to the back side of the glass.... ok ...well that can be done by reverse printing but how can I get white letters on a clear decal?
... and the white decal paper is no help.

The white decal paper I bought won't do for that.
It is only for making white letters when the image has other colors on it too and you can mask the letters with the sourrouding colors to show white letters. This is for applying the decal on a background that isn't white already.

So since I only have a regular black toner laser printer and an inkjet printer too... ( neither will print with white ink)
I could not use the decal material to solve the problem.

I found out that an Alps 5000 can print white ink on a clear decal to solve the problem or maybe use a color copier with opaque toners to create white.

But for my Howard 225 radio I simply decided to create a different approach to the dial.
I bought a new peice of clear glass. Then I printed the dial scale on polished white paper using my black-toner laser printer. This made a nice clean black background with brite white lettering.
Then since I can't apply anything to the glass ... so instead I decided to mount the paper dial to the backwall behind the pointer.
So I sprayed over the print with clear Krylon to make a nice shiny surface. Then I cut out the dial and sprayed the back with Borden's spray adhesive. This glue is great. If after spraying the glue you mount right away the glue is permanent... but if you wait 5 minuets the glue stays in a tacky state and you can easily peel off the paper later if you need to.
I did that and everything now looks absolutely great.

But I now also...need to create the Howard white logo on a clear decal to mount on the front of another Howard radio.
.. and I guess I will have to go to a copy center or something to find a color laser that actually prints white ink.
Any other ideas guys?

Peter,
In a similar situation, here is what I did for the front logo (RCA VICTOR) over wood on an RCA 67V1. I use MS VISIO Professional a lot. Found a font that was just like the original RCA, adjusted the size to fill the original space, and saved in black "BOLD" mode. Used the same font/size in yellow non "BOLD" mode as an individual overlays for each letter, and now have yellow letters with a black outline. Grouped the 2 sets of letters as one, so now the relationship will not change. Unfortunately couldn't find a supplier of metalic gold ink cartridges for my printer, so printed on the clear water-slide decal paper. Used the smallest needle point paint brush I have, and filled in the yellow area with metallic gold acrylic paint. It now has metallic gold letters with a black outline, and looks real close to the original, unless you inspect it with a eye loupe. Hope this helps.

marv

:I thought it would be a great idea to be able to create my own decals. So I just bought some water-slide decal paper to be able to create/fix/replace some dial scales and logos. ( I bought both clear and white decal paper)
:
:However, all is not as easy as it seems when the need arose.
:
:I am working on a Howard 225 and the clear dial glass has white lettering on the back of the glass. The pointer is behind the glass and then behind the pointer is a flat black metal background.
:
:When I removed the glass I noticed the lettering practically falling off the glass. I didn't dare touch it as it flaked off like dry powder.
:
:I figured this would be a good first test candidate for my new decal printing material.
:
:So I scanned it into Photoshop at a relatively high 300-dpi resolution and worked on all the little lines and numerals for 2 or 3 hours to make it look just perfect again.
:
:But when I decided to print it out it struck me that there is an unsurmountable problem here.
:
:I needed to apply the decal to the back side of the glass.... ok ...well that can be done by reverse printing but how can I get white letters on a clear decal?
:... and the white decal paper is no help.
:
:The white decal paper I bought won't do for that.
: It is only for making white letters when the image has other colors on it too and you can mask the letters with the sourrouding colors to show white letters. This is for applying the decal on a background that isn't white already.
:
:So since I only have a regular black toner laser printer and an inkjet printer too... ( neither will print with white ink)
:I could not use the decal material to solve the problem.
:
:I found out that an Alps 5000 can print white ink on a clear decal to solve the problem or maybe use a color copier with opaque toners to create white.
:
:But for my Howard 225 radio I simply decided to create a different approach to the dial.
:I bought a new peice of clear glass. Then I printed the dial scale on polished white paper using my black-toner laser printer. This made a nice clean black background with brite white lettering.
:Then since I can't apply anything to the glass ... so instead I decided to mount the paper dial to the backwall behind the pointer.
:So I sprayed over the print with clear Krylon to make a nice shiny surface. Then I cut out the dial and sprayed the back with Borden's spray adhesive. This glue is great. If after spraying the glue you mount right away the glue is permanent... but if you wait 5 minuets the glue stays in a tacky state and you can easily peel off the paper later if you need to.
:I did that and everything now looks absolutely great.
:
:But I now also...need to create the Howard white logo on a clear decal to mount on the front of another Howard radio.
:.. and I guess I will have to go to a copy center or something to find a color laser that actually prints white ink.
:Any other ideas guys?
:
:
:

I see what you did Marv.
but wouldn't you inkjet printer try to simulate printing a pseudo gold color if you selected it from a color pallete?

I've often created a simulated gold or bronze color-look in photoshop using the color picker. I start with a warm yellow mixed more toward green.

Certainly not a bright glittery gold but an acceptble shade.

You can see what I mean if you go to my 'radio' web page and look at the two borders around the main picture. The outer border is bronze and the inner is more gold-like.
http://www.pbpix.com/radio/

Peter,
Even though I have it, I'm not Photoshop literate, but the bright glittery gold was what I wanted to get close to the original. Its on the front of this beautiful cherry and book matched teak cabinet. Very much in keeping with the gold.

marv

:I see what you did Marv.
:but wouldn't you inkjet printer try to simulate printing a pseudo gold color if you selected it from a color pallete?
:
:I've often created a simulated gold or bronze color-look in photoshop using the color picker. I start with a warm yellow mixed more toward green.
:
:Certainly not a bright glittery gold but an acceptble shade.
:
:You can see what I mean if you go to my 'radio' web page and look at the two borders around the main picture. The outer border is bronze and the inner is more gold-like.
:http://www.pbpix.com/radio/
:

:Peter,
:Even though I have it, I'm not Photoshop literate, but the bright glittery gold was what I wanted to get close to the original. Its on the front of this beautiful cherry and book matched teak cabinet. Very much in keeping with the gold.
:
:marv
:
::I see what you did Marv.
::but wouldn't you inkjet printer try to simulate printing a pseudo gold color if you selected it from a color pallete?
::
::I've often created a simulated gold or bronze color-look in photoshop using the color picker. I start with a warm yellow mixed more toward green.
::
::Certainly not a bright glittery gold but an acceptble shade.
::
::You can see what I mean if you go to my 'radio' web page and look at the two borders around the main picture. The outer border is bronze and the inner is more gold-like.
::http://www.pbpix.com/radio/
::

Great ideas! I had been thinking about this subject myself. Great food for thought

Thank you

Jim S.