Depends a lot on the color of the images you are printing and the color of the item you are putting them on to.
Inkjets can print a large array of colors in many hues but only black will be opaque. Any dark color like box car red and the decal you apply will nearly disappear once installed unless you print on white paper. Of course if the background is white (rare in railroads) any color will be opaque. See #6 below.
Inkjet printers do not print white. If you need white you make print everything that is not white and then the white lettering of image will be left unprinted so the white decal paper becomes you white image. See #5 below.
1. Inkjet printers can only black on clear paper and have it opaque.
2. To print any color other than black, but not white, you need white decal paper.
3. To print white you need white decal paper.
4. To print black lettering, say, use clear inkjet paper. Just draw or type the lettering and print it out.
5. To print white lettering, the most common for trains, use white inkjet decal paper. This is a bit trickier. For lettering or any image that is irregular in shape you must make an area that will encompass the image and make it the color of the item you applying the decal to. Ten you type or draw the image or lettering select white for the color. When you print it, only the colored area will print leaving the areas you made white still white. Then cut the decal out and apply it. The problem here is getting the background color you printed to exactly match the color of the car or whatever you are putting the decal on.
6. If you are printing multiple colors or one color other than black you must use the same basic method as printing white. Make an area large enough to encompass the image/lettering the same as the item you are applying the decal on. Then add the color or colors to the image and print the decal out. Again, the background color must match the car or whatever you are decaling.
There are many places to buy decal paper sold under various brand names. I prefer Bare Metal Foil decal paper. They have clear and white decal for both inkjet printer and laser/Alps printers. Make sure you get inkjet, no matter where or what brand.
Doing all this is a pain. And the cost isn’t going to be $3.95 when you are done either. The are several places that will print custom decals for you in small volumes that you can afford. And the will print on clear paper so you won’t have to match background color.
A couple I can think of offhand includes Clover house, Tichy Train Group, Kadee and several others. But you may want to inquire if they can provide with a sample of their work first. Failing that, if they have pre-printed decals on hand buy an inexpensive set to inspect.
I suggest this as some use new laser technology that prints opaque whites and colors at quite high resolutions. But, they are also rather thick. Not the film but the actual print. It sort of looks and feels like Braille. Not a big deal on larger scales once setting solvents are use and they overcoated. Weathering also helps hide the Braille effect. But it can be a problem on HO or N scales. If you can get a set or sample and put it on a car you can decide if they are okay for you.
Or you can use one of the custom printers that are still using Alps Printers. There used to a lot of them but since the printers are getting hard to find and ink cartridges are expensive, there are less and less still in business. A properly done Alps using properly done artwork can be a very well done decal.
Prices vary but you may be able to get what you want for as little as $25.00.
John Hagen
OBS-CALS your source for Obscure Decals
obs.cals@ameritech.net
21050 George Hunt Cir., Apt 821
Waukesha, WI 53186
(262) 385-44540