HOW TO: Working with Water-Slide Decals

With a clear decal, do the colors come out a little faded?

Nope, but they will be a little transparent.

Does anyone have issues with color distortion?

Yes, but it only darkens a little and that's if I apply it to a differant color torso, if it is a red decal it would be best to apply it to a red torso, other than say, a black one, all-in-all it doesn't really bother me.

VM, you cannot link to a picture on your personal computer, you must first upload it to an image hosting site like www.maj.com or www.brickshelf.com.  Once you do this and we can see the pic we might be able to help you out.

If your decals are tearing then I think you just need to be a little more careful with them.  Read the directions carefully and follow them.  When I was just "winging" it my decals tore a lot too.  Then I took the time to read and comprehend the directions; no more problems.  In what step of the application process are the decals tearing?  Is it when you try to move the decal off of the paper and onto the lego piece?  If so, then you need to let the decal soften for just a bit longer.  If its tearing when you try to move the decal around on the lego piece then either you let the decal sit for too long in the water (meaning its too soft), or there's not enough water lubricating the decal on the piece.  DO NOT use the decal setting solution during this part of the process or it WILL tear; use only water.  Let me know if the decal is tearing at any other step in the process and I'll try to figure out what's going on.

As for the color of the torso showing through.... this can happen if a color is not back printed in white.  Printing white behind another color will make it look brighter and stand out more on a torso.  Bear in mind that some decal designs are made specifically for ONE torso color, and the appearance of the decal will change if put onto another colored torso.  This can create some cool looking minifigs but is also troubling if its not the desired effect.

I just don't understand the whole process. /: (

Then you need to slow down and read the information again. It's not complicated. Any 10-year-old could figure this out if they sat down and paid attention to what they were reading.


For me, Brasso does not work. :(

Impossible. Brasso works for -everyone-. Brasso is the same everywhere, and decals/LEGO plastic are the same everywhere. What exactly are you trying to do with the Brasso?


And if if there was white on my decal, and I printed it on clear decal paper, would it show up?

If you actually printed the white - then yes, I believe. Though it might be a little translucent. But for that you would need a special kind of printer like Kam has which can print white, and can use clear decal paper. Most people do not have printers capable of doing either one of those things.


No, it was crafty computers I think, and yes, that would answer my question I think, as it's see through, but even when I get RB's decals, I just tair them up, so I'll just have to paint the torsos white before I apply the decals.

Gotta be honest, Viking - I have no idea what you're talking about. This is an extraordinarily strange problem to be having. I've -never- seen a decal appear clear in the printed areas (if that's what you're saying) nor of decals reacting differently to different-coloured torsos. Something is wrong here. Can you take pictures of what's going on?

I have a queery, every time I apply a decal to a surface that isn't white, I can't see the design, then I have to take it off and apply it to a white surface so I can see it again, why is this? I use a paper that crazy boy gave me a link to when I first joined, but I don't have the link anymore.

ok..... but brasso comes in big cans but i only need a bit so its partly a waste

im only working on one custom for now and im not sure when else i will use it..........WAIT my sister has a brass tuba :)

using nailpolish remover was one of my biggest mistakes...

Now I am going to get me some BRASSO.

im wondering if you can use nailpolish remover to take off the previos designs

Oops! I thought you were talking about stickers.

whats your printer brand and name?

 mines a 'HP deskjet 5652'