Custom Decals just in time for Space Marines

The new Space Marine codex came out and you want to create your own chapter.  An easy way to do that is to make your own shoulder decals for a custom chapter. This is a great way to build that army you wanted and give it the look of a professional job for pennies on the dollar. Also if you just want some symbols or words for your tanks because the sheets provided just don't have enough of what you are looking for. Here is an example of the great work these decals can do if done right. The mighty Star Phantoms.


Where to go for paper

http://www.modeldecal.com/

http://www.decalpaper.com/default.asp

Things to keep in mind

When buying custom decal paper there are two types of decal sheets, ones that can be used for inkjet printers and those that are used for laser printers.  Inkjet printer custom decals often have to be special treated after printed in order to stabilize the decal.  The ones used for laser printers do not.  I often choose the laser printer type for ease.  For color laser printer I often use Kinko’s. This works great if you print off your decal sheet on regular paper and then they can make a smooth copy for you onto the decal paper.

Helpful hints

On a side note if you go the custom decal route, printers do not print white. Since white to a printer is a negative space, an area that has nothing there.  Usually the best kind of decal to make is a dark symbol and then put that on a light background.  If you need to do white decals, you will have to get a custom print job. Armorcast is able to make those but note that anything that is remotely similar to GW they will probably refuse.

Like with most projects it is best to print a few and use the decals on test models and see how well they work. Custom decals are the cheapest way to make an independent chapter. When my friends wanted decals for their Space Sharks, Red Scorpions, and some other symbol for their chapters I did them up.

When looking for symbols or marks off of the internet, it is better to get jpg images over gif images as jpg images retain a crisper image as you scale them up and down.  Also it is preferable to get a larger image and scale it down then it is a small image and scale it up as it can lose clarity.

 

Another useful resource is the decal project over at Bolter And Chainsword:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/files/category/21-decals/

 

This is a great resource as they have a lot of the old logos and some generic sheets that give you an idea of what sizes you need to scale down or up to so you have a great decal for that model you just finished.

Your imagination is your only limit with printing your own decals. Think about how you can take your terrain to the next level or make that banner look the way you always wanted it to. Its up to you and now you have the resources. Good luck and get those Marines ready for the table.