Cy Stapleton' HOTLINE Newsletter #7
Copyright February, 1996
Sometimes You Hit A Home Run!!!
Hotline is always interesting to work but some days are better
than others and today was one of those better days. I received a
number of challenging inquiries and one of those led to a vendor
who was already in the database, but not for the product I was
looking.
A Florida reader wanted to print a set of decals for a model
airplane and didn't know where to find the special paper that
water decals are printed on. I faxed him that information a few
days ago. Today he came back trying to find the special clear
coating that has to be printed over the decal to keep the color in
one piece when the decal is slipped off the special carrier paper.
I didn't even know it had to have a clear coating, but I called
Larry Adams at Brittian's Tullis Russell (203-324-7536) to see if
I could pick his brain. I had Brittian's in the database as
providing the special paper for water decals. That conversation
was one of the most informative I have had in a very long time.
It appears that Brittian's, an English company, not only produces
the transfer paper for the water decals but also for many other
uses. Most of the glassware you see that has color decals on it is
done with Jerry's transfer paper. He also has the transfer paper
for removable tattoos (Skin Cal) and one called Photo Cal that can
be used in a laser printer. You create the image on your DTP
equipment, print it on your laser printer or copier, then transfer
the image to various types of ad specialties - such as coffee
cups, etc. You can personalize almost anything for pennies - if I
understand the process right.
But, back to the question at hand. It appears that the water
decals can be printed offset as you would any other job, but it
has to have the clear coating to hold the ink together. That clear
coating comes from a Chicago company, Cudner & O'Connor
(800-621-7749). While the carrier can be printed offset, the clear
coating needs to be applied by the screen printing process. That
isn't difficult, though. Simply go to your friendly art supply
house and purchase one of their little $25 or $30 screen print
kits and follow the simple instructions. The reason that the clear
coating needs to be applied by the screen process is that you
can't get a thick enough film trying to print it offset.
The printable adhesive comes from National Starch (908-685-5000).
Now for the really nifty stuff. Using Brittian's Skin Cal you can
print your own removable tattoos via offset. It takes a special
soy ink that can be placed on the skin, but not-to-worry. That ink
is available from Colorcon (215) 699-7501). The removable tattoo
does not need to have the clear coating.
This isn't meant to be a tutorial, but an idea for those who are
interested. I normally write about processes that I have tried,
and give my readers a blueprint of how to do it. Since I don't
have my printing company any longer I don't have any way to try
these things out. I would hear about processes like this, find out
what I could about them, experiment until I got something to work,
then write about it. You are going to have to do the experimenting
on this one.
At sometime in the near future I am going to get access to an
offset press and come up with a blueprint of how to produce these
removable tattoos in a small shop. When I do, it will be
appear in the SHAREware column of Quick Printing Magazine. Til
then, go ahead and get the jump on me and share your experience
with me.
Til next time, God bless you and yours... cy
The Commercial...
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Date inserted: Monday, February 19, 1996 4:58:04