Greg, thanks for that "inside report" of what it takes to actually produce these things. I think the analogy to forging banknotes is an apt one. I got involved a year or two ago in a project to reproduce various French 531 decals. Incredible amount of exacting detail to do this right. One gets caught up in debates about whether, in a certain year, the numbers 531 were enclosed in quotes or not, and what exact year the registered trade mark symbol was present, and when Reynolds Tube Co. changed to TI Reynolds Ltd.. Not to mention some major manufacturers mixed one frame decal with an earlier fork decal. And don't forget the proper alignment of letters with letters in the line above, both in English and in French. Sometimes one thinks forging $100 bills would be childsplay by comparison.
As consumers of this stuff we all need to exercise patience and a sense of humor if we expect the people producing them to continue the incredible effort of doing so.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Greg S <gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
I know exactly what Mike has been going through with commercial printers
with their 'commercial' attitudes. I recently made the plunge and
aquired the whole printing set-up to do decals myself as a result of
poor service and broken promises by printers.
As you are all probably aware, I have been infesting ebay for the lasr
12 months with Reynolds, Campy and Columbus decals and have relied upon
outsourcing my graphic artwork and printing. My graphic artist has been
brilliant, his equipment absolutely suitable for decals and his prices
sky high. When his service ground to a halt around Xmas last, I started
looking for the right set-up to 'do-it-myself'. The only commercial
style printer that can do the job, ie, print true golds, silvers, spot
whites and colors over a thin clear vinyl is a Gerber. ( Have tried all
the other printing options but a 2nd rate product is the result) A
primer can also be placed beneath the top colours as well to eliminate
translucency with process colors). Heat foil transfer system is the only
way to go (unless you can do a bulk run with pressure type decals - and
I have no idea of who can do these anywhere)
The reason my printer's services stopped was that the accuracy of decals
had to be so precise - you might as well be forging bank notes. The
amount of editing, re-runs, trips to see him (600miles round trip) etc
made it all too hard for him (my time was inconsequential). Easy money
for him just doing signs, banners and bill-boards instead.
So I took the plunge. Sank $10,000 into a used machine with software.
These machines run at $30,000 new. Software didnt like my main computer
so purchased 'state of the art' software that likes XP - cost $2500.
This state of the art software doesnt like my 2nd computer at home - so
purchased a lap-top with XP. The gerber only uses a sprocket drive
plotter (cutter) - had a cheapy, but didnt like my new software (only
likes ME and earlier Windows - $8000 later a new plotter. Gets thinking
- 'how many Confentes could I have bought instead?' Fortunately I can
offset the expenses through the businesses I run.
Then the fun starts - getting to know the software - many an experienced
printer has thrown their Gerber into a pit as the software is like an
alien language. If you think you are pretty smooth with Adobe Photoshop
/ Illustrater - you will hit a brick wall with Omega (Gerber software).
Okay, lets waste a heap of vinyl and foils just to reassure ourselves
that we dont know what we are doing. Trying to understand why the screen
says yellow, the directory says yellow, the Help file,the manual and
your training all indicates that you have done everything to the book -
but it prints red. Aaargghhh!!!! Knowing that the foils are worth $100 a
roll and you need a library of 30 colors to be equipped properly. Hell -
I should have picked up my daughters from school and I've been agonising
over this printer! Do I buy that $500 roll of gold metalic for some
Mavic rim decals?
Never underestimate the amount of time it takes to digitalise a set of
decals and how quickly you can pick up any minor faults in the finished
product.
Anyway - I'm over the rise and I'm printing some new designs and it
seems to work. My significant other feels the pressure decreasing. I
even had time to get in some Salsa dancing this week. Life is good - but
may I never be in the position of Michael, like I was last year, where
your best intentions and efforts are totally thwarted by third parties.
Please give him some slack - I havent spoken to him but from all
accounts seems a genuine and great guy.
Just to let you know, this is NOT an advertisement for special orders. I
will slowly get a library of sorts together of decals, - I will be
starting by extending the range of Ozzie ones first (can I hear a massed
groan?) get stuff done for my own projects, help out a couple of friends
and see how it goes.
Greg Softley
Coffs Harbour
Oztralia