How to Make bike decals?
06-24-20, 06:40 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
How to Make bike decals?
Can anyone pass on their experience or point me to a good site or youtube video on making my own decals and applying them to my bike? I still have the original decal on my bike, which I took a picture of but they are in rough shape. My talented son did some magic in Photoshop and cleaned the image up so now I need to print it on decal paper and get them on the bike.
06-24-20, 07:27 AM
#2
Cat 6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Mountain Brook, AL
Posts: 7,482
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 500 Post(s)
Liked 184 Times
in
119 Posts
I used beldecal waterslide paper, but they seem to be gone now.
Waterslide is very thin, and needs to be covered in clear. Vinyl is not as thin, but can be applied on top.
The one choice [at least with their waterslide paper] you'd need to make is print on clear paper, or do you need a white backing?
Also, your home printer won't print silver or gold, if you need those colors.
You can always take your file to someone in town and have them print some up.
Waterslide is very thin, and needs to be covered in clear. Vinyl is not as thin, but can be applied on top.
The one choice [at least with their waterslide paper] you'd need to make is print on clear paper, or do you need a white backing?
Also, your home printer won't print silver or gold, if you need those colors.
You can always take your file to someone in town and have them print some up.
Likes For Ex Pres:
06-24-20, 10:05 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,335
Bikes: '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '72 Gitane tandem, '72 Raleigh Super Course, '73 Raleigh Gran Sport, '73 Colnago Super, '76 Fiorelli Coppi, '78 Raleigh SBDU Team Pro, '78 Trek 930, '81 Holdsworth Special 650B, '86 Masi GC, ’94 Bridgestone RB-T
Mentioned: 67 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 787 Post(s)
Liked 524 Times
in
284 Posts
What's the bike? There are a lot of existing repro decals on the market, and it might be easier to buy.
__________________
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
06-24-20, 11:07 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,752
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3236 Post(s)
Liked 3,883 Times
in
1,443 Posts
@rhm has done this with some success. For example: Holdsworth 531 Special... the bike frame as a blank canvas. I don't know his technique.
Velocals will make custom decals for you. If you just want letters and one of their standard fonts, it's cheap and easy.
Velocals will make custom decals for you. If you just want letters and one of their standard fonts, it's cheap and easy.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
06-24-20, 01:14 PM
#7
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,655
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1301 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4691 Post(s)
Liked 5,838 Times
in
2,297 Posts
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
06-24-20, 01:26 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
Not lettering but this logo on the front fork. Do you think this decal exisits out there somewhere?
06-24-20, 02:30 PM
#9
Senior Member
06-24-20, 02:45 PM
#10
Senior Member
These days to do the pro looking ones like Cyclomondo and Velocals sell requires an expensive printer and some pro graphics software, and the knowledge to use it. However, a run of the mill laserprinter will work for simple black and white decals. Decal paper is fun. Depending on the graphics, sometimes it's possible to infill by hand with a gold paint pen etc. There are lots of threads on this sort of thing on various guitar forums.
Old school decals I believe would have been made using photostats and silkscreen, but not sure on that.
Old school decals I believe would have been made using photostats and silkscreen, but not sure on that.
06-24-20, 03:21 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
Heck, $9.95 that's a no brainer. Hopefully they ship to Canada OK. Thanks Salamandrine!
06-25-20, 10:25 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,124
Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 813 Post(s)
Liked 1,034 Times
in
672 Posts
gugie , thanks for the link to DIYlettering.com. I just placed an order with them. I like that I can design and can modify the shape of the words. The only thing that I don't like, for the simple version, is that I cannot add a symbol, like a star. There is a more advanced version that does this but, I am happy with the way it will look without the star. I will have my graphics with a border for just over $20 with shipping. I will weed it my self to save money.
This bike is low end, I can't reveal what I am working on. It will look good in the end. I'll post when it is complete.
This bike is low end, I can't reveal what I am working on. It will look good in the end. I'll post when it is complete.
07-05-20, 10:26 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,124
Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 813 Post(s)
Liked 1,034 Times
in
672 Posts
Graphics arrived and are on the frame. Now I can't hide the low endedness any more. The good thing about such a bike is that I have artistic licence. If this were a Raleigh, I could probably find the decals somewhere, but who would have a Royce Union graphic.
This looks a lot better than the original foil graphics. Maybe too good. If I do it again I would make the letter size a little smaller. I wanted it to look vintage, but with such big letters it looks like a modern bike trying to look vintage. It is not clear coated yet. So this is the just the vinyl on top of the paint.
This looks a lot better than the original foil graphics. Maybe too good. If I do it again I would make the letter size a little smaller. I wanted it to look vintage, but with such big letters it looks like a modern bike trying to look vintage. It is not clear coated yet. So this is the just the vinyl on top of the paint.
07-06-20, 06:56 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Great White North
Posts: 1,226
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Caad 8, 2010 Opus Fidelio, 1985 Peugeot UO14, 1999 Peugeot Dune, Sakai Select, L'Avantage, 1971 Gitane Apache Standard, 1999 Specialized Hard Rock
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 548 Post(s)
Liked 473 Times
in
302 Posts
Looks great Velo Mule!
07-06-20, 09:00 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,991
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26463 Post(s)
Liked 10,420 Times
in
7,235 Posts
.
...those are really nice work for 20 bucks. I might do something like that for the Michael Johnson frame I have here. Thanks.
Is that with a clear overcoat of urethane sprayed on ? Or is it something else ?
...those are really nice work for 20 bucks. I might do something like that for the Michael Johnson frame I have here. Thanks.
Is that with a clear overcoat of urethane sprayed on ? Or is it something else ?
07-08-20, 02:39 AM
#16
Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I cant post links yet, but if you search youtube for "How to print uci certification on a bike like a pro", you can find how to make water slide decals, and tips for your clear coat over it.
Likes For wowzow:
09-06-20, 12:21 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,751
Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 703 Post(s)
Liked 673 Times
in
421 Posts
Assuming one has a professional ink-jet printer with archival ink, what types of media would be suitable for a bike frame?
12-13-20, 08:08 PM
#19
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Usa
Posts: 17
Bikes: magOdops
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There would be pretty good staying power for any vinyl sticker topvinylcutters.com. You might even think about grabbing a clear coat spray can to clear the coat over it. I've never done that before and I don't know if it really works. And it might make the post too thick to fit back into the seat tube if it did (I guess you could clear over just the decal and leave any part or the seat post that is inside the seat tube alone)..
Last edited by Areba21; 12-15-20 at 09:09 AM.
12-13-20, 08:32 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,870
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 2,183 Times
in
1,185 Posts
Those are nice....What type of files do you send them....can they convert a high-quality PDF and scale to the correct size, etc?
Best, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
12-13-20, 08:45 PM
#21
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,655
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1301 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4691 Post(s)
Liked 5,838 Times
in
2,297 Posts
I've sent them a PDF for other work, but both scripts are available as fonts at their site.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-13-20, 10:25 PM
#22
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,658
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3913 Post(s)
Liked 6,526 Times
in
3,237 Posts
12-13-20, 11:21 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,684
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1374 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,761 Times
in
945 Posts
I have made my own waterslide decals a few times. Not all that difficult to do but hard to get really good results. Considering how much it costs to paint a frame/fork set, I wonder at the wisdom of using home made decals or stickers, unless you know what you are doing and have the equipment to do it properly. Anyway, a couple of home made water slide decals that I made up years ago...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
12-14-20, 03:44 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,832
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1112 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,335 Times
in
787 Posts
A while ago for fun I made a bunch of these. I used an ink-jet printer on decal paper from the hobby shop, sold for plastic models. When I put the first coat of clear on it it ran - the red in particular; next one I will go *very* light coats to see if that will help. I would probably also run a marker along the edge (before applying) to get rid of the white rim. This is on powdercoat, it stuck just fine:
Likes For oneclick:
12-14-20, 06:54 AM
#25
Junior Member
I have made my own waterslide decals a few times. Not all that difficult to do but hard to get really good results. Considering how much it costs to paint a frame/fork set, I wonder at the wisdom of using home made decals or stickers, unless you know what you are doing and have the equipment to do it properly. Anyway, a couple of home made water slide decals that I made up years ago...