Rub-On vs. Water Slide Decals

[Whammo]

I found these rub-on decals while cruising the net. I wonder how they would rate against the water slide decals most people currently use to replicate the graphics on these radios.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002J9037A

Anyone have any experience with the rub-on decal paper?

[Keyop]

Whammo, et al...

From what I know and have used, these are not decals in the traditional sense...They are a deposited pigment medium in the form of letters, numbers and punctuation marks onto a synthetic transparent film that transfer to the object of interest under pressure of a stylus (pencil, chopstick or other somewhat blunt instrument) when they are rubbed...Their durability or permanence is best achieved by a light coat of lacquer or shellac after the transfer.

A large assortment of various fonts and sizes are available from any serious art supply store...Most are black pigment transfers but other colors can be found.

From my experience, the transfer is best done on reasonably smooth surfaces; more so than surfaces with, for example, heavy textured wrinkle paint.

FWIW

Bruce
"Keyop"
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[Jack Shirley]

Thanks for the heads up on this product. I bought a few sheets elsewhere just to give it a try. I've got no big complaint against waterslide decals but maybe this stuff will be better when it comes to edges showing, etc.

I'm sure Bruce is right...this isn't a panacea for wrinkle finishes! I've used the stuff like Instatype over the years so I figure its of the same ilk.

Anyway, I'll report back after some trials to see how it stands up to lacquer, etc.

[Whammo]

[Jack Shirley]

Product hasn't arrived yet. Just saying that means it will arrive today! Will let you know here when I get a chance to work with it.

[Jack Shirley]

.My guess was right. It arrived yesterday.

Here's the skinny.

Its not quite what I expected. I was thinking of a simple rub-on dry transfer like Bruce described. Close but not quite.

You print onto one page (in reverse) and then apply an adhesive sheet over the top of that. The adhesive pulls the image off of the printed sheet. Then you place that on your surface and burnish down. All of the selvage remains so its not like just transferring only the letters or whatever.

Once you place it on the surface it sticks well and there's no repositioning possible and only limited ability to smooth out any inevitable wrinkles.

It does seem to print a tad more opaque on my inkjet than do decals. Probably works considerably better in that respect on a laser jet. Overcoating with lacquer doesn't hurt the material.

Just like with waterslides the clear background is 'frosty' looking so it wouldn't be all that good for glass dials.

All in all I don't see any advantages over waterslide decals other than the fact that its a dry process that you can use on paper or cardboard. (scrapbook pages, for instance). BTW, I used the Grafix Rub-onz