POLL: Decal Preference ... For Your Voting Pleasure

[Shadows]

Time for a poll!

To determine my direction for future decals, I need some input from people who have used decals, even if they aren't mine.

I have made a Star Wars Imperial AT-ST Driver decal to serve as an example (boring decal, but illustrates well).

Question 1. Which do you prefer, bordered or unbordered decals?

Bordered Unbordered

Question 2. Which do you use more, paper or waterslide decals?

Question 3. To confirm your earlier answers, which of these 4 decals would you use, if you wanted to use one?

A

B

C

D

Doesn't mean I'll listen to you completely, but at least it will give me an indication of what things I need to make an extra effort to include.

Thanks for voting, and please be sure to add any additional input here, as needed.

[kill will]

Hmm, well I dunno, bordered is good looking, but when it's printed the unbordered can be put on the torso and cut off from there. I'm not sure what you mean in the A, B, C, or D stuff. *wacko*

[Shadows]

Hmm, well I dunno, bordered is good looking, but when it's printed the unbordered can be put on the torso and cut off from there. I'm not sure what you mean in the A, B, C, or D stuff. *wacko*

A is bordered + filled

B is bordered + unfilled

C is unbordered + filled

D is unbordered + unfilled

I figured it would cover the previous questions indirectly. People usually respond best to images.

[Hinckley]

I voted:

Bordered-I have to know exactly where to cut. I don't like the decal to not match the shape of the torso. It drives me nuts if you can see an edge at all.

Waterslide-for photographing and budget concerns, paper works great and isn't bad, but I prefer waterslide because it feels more authentic to me to go through the process of designing and applying. I like to know I can treat the torso like any other and it won't be damaged...

B-it's bordered and would print well on a clear waterslide decal so I could put it on any color torso...

[Shadows]

Bordered-I have to know exactly where to cut. I don't like the decal to not match the shape of the torso. It drives me nuts if you can see an edge at all.

B-it's bordered and would print well on a clear waterslide decal so I could put it on any color torso...

Yeah, I can see that, but I can't seem to cut with borders without either leaving a bit or going too far in trying not to leave any. It's a fine line, no pun intended.

I especially appreciate your opinions since I know you've tried a lot of different methods and experimented with both. That's coming out deliciously wrong... *look*

As an expert printer, if you're ever bored and have some time to kill (yeah, right), tell me how you think these would print. I'd love to see them since they're my own creations, just to give me an idea of how effective they are.

Which, despite TLG's best attempts at convincing us they wore tan, actually belongs on white with white arms.

or

General Veers, which belongs on a dark grey torso, of course.

[Hinckley]

I will try to get to those torsos next time I do some decal testing.

This is how I border my torso decals:

This torso was created from a template on Classic-Castle...

I shade the background a light gray so I can ease into the border while cutting it and if some is left over it's hardly noticeable. The black outline is easy to spot on the completed torso if you miss it while cutting. The light gray is passable. I have model scissors I got at the craft store too. They've made a big difference in precision for cutting out the waterslide decals, especially when dealing with legs or arms...

[JimBee]

bordered: what if i wanted to change the colors?

paper: never tried waterslide

B: white is a good color to pick out details

[Shadows]

I will try to get to those torsos next time I do some decal testing.

Aw, thanks!

I shade the background a light gray so I can ease into the border while cutting it and if some is left over it's hardly noticeable. The black outline is easy to spot on the completed torso if you miss it while cutting. The light gray is passable. I have model scissors I got at the craft store too. They've made a big difference in precision for cutting out the waterslide decals, especially when dealing with legs or arms...

I guess the outline should be based on the most likely torso colour for maximum effect. Something I'll have to consider when making new ones.

I think I may have to go back through my entire decal library now and rework some of them anyway. Apply some standardization to the system.

Good tips, thanks!