Pedal Decal: Anyone tried this method?

[Hoffy84]

I've been doing some pedals with the typical light color paint and clear waterslide decal (then cover all that in lacquer) with good success. But now I created some artwork with colored graphics that I want to apply over darker painted enclosures.
I found this method, but haven't been able to dig up much on other folks doing it. Only that it prob won't work, but his results look pretty good. http://www.kitrae.net/music/Custom_Pedal_Graphics.html
Anyone else tried Tee-shirt transfers?
If not, I guess I could give white-backed waterslides a go. Here are the next pedal graphics I'm trying to apply...

[Willybomb]

Yep.  I'll elaborate later.

[Muadzin]

I basically always used white backed decals for my pedals. Never tried the t-shirt transfer thing. Seems like too much hassle when applying white backed decals is the exact same process as clear decals.

[Willybomb]

Slightly better pic.

Yeah, look, I tried white backed transfer on my first two builds, and it comes up pretty good (and I followed the tute on that site you linked to).  The issue is that they soak up the clearcoat like a sponge and you really need to be careful with it as the transfer will wrinkle and carry on if you go too hard too fast, so it takes a while to finish them up.

I've also tried regular inkjet sticker paper, which also needs tons of clearcoat.  It also needs a white base on the pedal as it goes translucent and the colour underneath starts to come through, muting your image quite badly.

Regular inkjetted photopaper stuck to an enclosure works, but is a bit thick and.  The upside is that it only takes a couple of clearcoats to finish.  It can get ratty and isn't that durable all told.

My best results have come from using what's called Datapol.  It's a laser sticker paper that is much the same as what you'd use for a bumper sticker.  It's chemical resistant, waterproof, and pretty thin.  Two, three clearcoats and you're done.  You only get one chance to apply it though, as trying to pull it off will stretch it.  It's still usable though when this happens but you might see some discolouration where it stretched.

Pedals you can find in my build reports using various methods:
Krankosaurus, Little Angel - color t-shirt transfer paper.

Hyperactive Hyperdrive - Sticker paper
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=21721.msg214328#msg214328

Deadringer - Sticker paper
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=22011.msg216767#msg216767

Seapig - Photopaper
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=18020.msg173204#msg173204

Everything here is Datapol. Except the baby.
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=26973.msg261052#msg261052

[Hoffy84]

Thanks for all the tips Willybomb. I suppose I'll try at least one of mine with the transfer paper, since I already bought a 5-pack. I've been brush-lacquering 4 coats on my pedals and then gradually sand to fine, then polish, but guess I should go gentle and do light coats of spray-lacquer to keep the transfer intact. I did a quick search on the Datapol, but doesn't look like it's easily found here in the US. I really like your pedal themes. They all look great. Love the Last StarFighter pedal. I want to press that Death Blossom switch!!

[Willybomb]

Love the Last StarFighter pedal. I want to press that Death Blossom switch!!

I wish you could too, but I sold that one...

I would recommend Upol or Spraymax 1k for finishing, personally.  I use a rattlecan, works well.

You can get a free Datapol sample here, but you'll have to pay for shipping:
https://everylabels.com.au/white_synthetic_labels

[Muadzin]

Slightly better pic.

Yeah, look, I tried white backed transfer on my first two builds, and it comes up pretty good (and I followed the tute on that site you linked to).  The issue is that they soak up the clearcoat like a sponge and you really need to be careful with it as the transfer will wrinkle and carry on if you go too hard too fast, so it takes a while to finish them up.

A luthier taught me that the best technique was to spray a very fine thin mist over the decals first, like 4 to 5 times, almost barely noticeable, and only then apply a full thick coat. By applying those very thin sprayings first they would form a thin layer that would prevent the wrinkling that would happen if you cover the decals with a full thick coat from the get go. I've been using that technique ever since on my pedal and guitar builds. It works great every time.

[matmosphere]

I have achieved this a completely different way.

-flip the artwork (so it prints upside down)
- print on transparency paper
- spray the back with white spray paint (to fill the gaps)
- once it's dry, cut to size and glue to enclosure with spray glue
- coat everything with several coats of minwax lacquer.

With a little practice you can get great looking results. And the artwork is on the underside of the transparency so it should be very hard to damage it 

[matmosphere]

If you scroll to my entry you can see a big muff I did this way

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=26825.msg263013#msg263013

[Hoffy84]

If you scroll to my entry you can see a big muff I did this way

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=26825.msg263013#msg263013

That looks great. Do you use inkjet or laser for this method?

[matmosphere]

Inkjet. I actually get them printed at staples cause I have a cheap printer.

[Willybomb]

A luthier taught me that the best technique was to spray a very fine thin mist over the decals first, like 4 to 5 times, almost barely noticeable, and only then apply a full thick coat. By applying those very thin sprayings first they would form a thin layer that would prevent the wrinkling that would happen if you cover the decals with a full thick coat from the get go. I've been using that technique ever since on my pedal and guitar builds. It works great every time.

Yeah, that's basically the correct way.  I tend to be pretty impatient though, and luckily thick coats don't seem to worry Datapol at all.  Having said that, I try to basically mist a few times.