Custom Stickers - Recommendations?

[AirborneAFOL]

Gents,

Still relatively new to trains (city display layout guy), I've finally begun building a good number of my own freight (5) and passenger (2) cars. Nothing that is worth of posting just yet, but I'm steadily improving. I've seen several of you do some custom stickers - while I'm adverse for it on city buildings, I have to admit I'm a fan of them for trains (in moderation). So I'm curious about what others have done and found success with...

1. Custom Printing of Stickers (done yourself). Are there any recommendations for quality sticker-printers? Any recommendations for where to buy quality stock (sticker paper) that adheres well to Lego? I'm willing to make an investment into my own printer, since this route seems ideal for truly customizing what you want - I could just use some tips on a quality one for Lego sticker jobs, as I know virtually nothing of printers.

2. Custom Sticker Purchases (pre-printed). Aside from the handful of sellers I've on Ebay, and their limited options (and my skepticism of the quality), I'd love any recommendations for "Eurobricks AFOL Endorsed" sellers who provide an ample variety of custom stickers (for tanker cars, box cars, flatbeds, hoppers, etc) that you may have.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Edited April 17, 2015 by AirborneAFOL

[PastVPresent]

I would love to hear advice/input on this question too.

For what its worth, I ordered the CSX stickers for 60052 from laygoman on ebay and was very happy with them.

[dr_spock]

It depends on how much you want to spend, how much time and patience you have, how many stickers do you want, what quality do you want, how long can you wait, etc.

I usually make my own on sticker paper or clear inkjet labels on an inkjet color printer. I find a graphics online or make my own and print. It is quick and dirty for one or two custom stickers. Some times they come out great on the first try. Once you are familiar with the colors your printer can output, you know what to adjust to get the look you want. I guess it is like photography--practice, practice...

If you have lots of money, you can get a vinyl die cut printer.

You can also make the custom graphics and send out to a print shop to do. The print quality is normally excellent but some places have minimum orders. Our LUG do that for display mats.

There are lots of options for pre-printed stickers and decals. It is a matter of finding the right ones and sizes for the price you're willing to pay. I don't go that route as my railroad is pure fantasy.

[AirborneAFOL]

Does do the inkjet clear label stickers hold up in terms of adhesiveness? Do they look sufficiently "professional", or do you find they tend to start peeling off before too long?

[Commander Wolf]

I usually make my own on sticker paper or clear inkjet labels on an inkjet color printer.

Can you link to the clear inkjet labels you use?

I've been printing on mailing-label stickers, and it's pretty mediocre. They work and they don't peel or anything, but they also don't blend very well, and colors are impossible to match.

[dr_spock]

I have tried some Avery 18665 clear sheets for inkjet. They are not completely clear but seems good enough for certain color combinations. The inkjet ink is usually not water proof so that is something to consider. Also lighter colors don't work as well on clear labels placed on top of dark bricks. Most home printers can't print a layer of white before putting on the lighter color.

Rescue Train Car by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

I printed some small fire logos and it appears in the photo I didn't get all the air gaps out when I pressed them on. The red arrow didn't come out as red on top of the bley bricks. The red cross is printed on white sticker paper and the white seem to blend in well with the white panels.

Multi-Purpose Machine by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

They seem better on the yellow MOW train. The red MPM XXX stands out better on yellow bricks.

I use GIMP for graphic editing and Libreoffice Draw layout out the graphics on the sheet. I don't normally print a full sheet at a time. I reused the sheet working my way bottom up.

[legoman666]

I sent a self designed PDF to fedex to print on clear vinyl sticker sheet. $25 for 8.5 x 11 ($25 minimum). I found fonts to match CSX, UP, BNSF, etc and used the Peeron color guide to select the correct colors. Waiting to get it back, so we'll see how it looks.

[cgarison]

Does do the inkjet clear label stickers hold up in terms of adhesiveness? Do they look sufficiently "professional", or do you find they tend to start peeling off before too long?

We have a guy in our lug that uses his inkjet printer to print for us many types of decals for our layout including Pennsylvania license plates for many of our auto MOCs. I am not sure about the equipment that he uses, but I can say that the results that he gets are pretty amazing and very nice on our display. As for bigger stickers for the side of a locomotive where logo detail is critical, I am not sure if this technology could expand to fill that need, but I am sure that it could be done.

[pirzyk]

I use a vinyl cutter to create stickers. The vinyl sticks pretty well to the sides of lego. Color matching can be a problem but the beneift I get is to be able to print in white. Since the letters are cut out, I don't have to worry about matching background colors. The other issue I have with the vinyl is if the letters get too small, then the cutting fails often.

[THERIZE]

I have tried some Avery 18665 clear sheets for inkjet. They are not completely clear but seems good enough for certain color combinations. The inkjet ink is usually not water proof so that is something to consider. Also lighter colors don't work as well on clear labels placed on top of dark bricks. Most home printers can't print a layer of white before putting on the lighter color.

Rescue Train Car by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

I printed some small fire logos and it appears in the photo I didn't get all the air gaps out when I pressed them on. The red arrow didn't come out as red on top of the bley bricks. The red cross is printed on white sticker paper and the white seem to blend in well with the white panels.

. Multi-Purpose Machine by dr_spock_888, on Flickr

They seem better on the yellow MOW train. The red MPM XXX stands out better on yellow bricks.

I use GIMP for graphic editing and Libreoffice Draw layout out the graphics on the sheet. I don't normally print a full sheet at a time. I reused the sheet working my way bottom up.

is that rescue train a 'cargosprinter'? I believe the Swiss railways have one for rescue when a train is on fire while in a tunnel.

[dr_spock]

is that rescue train a 'cargosprinter'? I believe the Swiss railways have one for rescue when a train is on fire while in a tunnel.

Yes, it is Windoff Cargosprinter-like rescue train similiar to the Swiss but in the LEGO toy style.

[THERIZE]

Yes, it is Windoff Cargosprinter-like rescue train similiar to the Swiss but in the LEGO toy style.

wonderful!

[sticker-paper]

This is a very interesting topic
I usually make my own on sticker paper or clear inkjet labels on an inkjet color printer.
The characteristic advantages of self-adhesive labels: It has the advantages of no brushing, no paste, no dipping, no pollution, saving labeling time, etc., a wide range of applications, convenient and fast. All kinds of self-adhesive label paper can be applied to materials that are incapable of general paper label. It can be said that self-adhesive label is a kind of universal label.
 

[Dav1d]

I have used these Clear Labels | Avery

 

[Matt Dawson]

If you're looking for train specific, I'd wholeheartedly recommend OKBrickWorks. They do the decals for BrickTrainDepot and Brick Model Railroader, and do a lot of custom work.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Matt Dawson
Brickmania produced their decals in-house.

[dtomsen]

6 hours ago, Matt Dawson said:

If you're looking for train specific, I'd wholeheartedly recommend OKBrickWorks. They do the decals for BrickTrainDepot, Brick Model Railroader, and their newest vendor is BrickMania for the USRA boxcar. 

Second that, quite a few of us here in Europe use them too 

Somewhat expensive but more than worth it!

Edited December 15, 2021 by dtomsen