George elanjian asked:
>What's the difference between the two -- Is one better than the other? What
>was the reasoning behind the foil? Cosmetic or cost?
Strictly speaking, "decals" use an image that is transferred from a substrate paper, usually by sliding off sideways from a wetted substrate paper.
Foil "decals" are just a type of sticker.
From Webster's online Unabridged Dictionary:
Main Entry: de·cal·co·ma·nia Etymology: French décalcomanie, from décalco- (from décalquer to copy by tracing, from dé- off -- from Old French des- off, do the opposite of -- + calquer to trace) + manie mania, craze, from Late Latin mania -- more at DE-, CALQUE, MANIA 1 : the art or process of transferring pictures and designs typically from specially prepared paper to china, glass, or marble and permanently fixing them thereto 2 a : a picture or design prepared for transfer by decalcomania b : a paper on which designs are printed for transfer printing
--
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com
Useful articles about bicycles and cycling
http://sheldonbrown.com