Blair Line Graffiti Decals Have Improved

[GaryHinshaw]

The subject line says it all.  I just got a few new sets in the mail and I hadn't realized that they have changed their process.  This is just a heads up for those so inclined.  The improvements: printed on white decal paper for bolder colours; a factor of (at least) two better half tone resolution; and they are laser cut around their often-complex perimeters.  Here are some examples (before & after in the first pic):





In the latter extreme close-up, you can kind of see the perimeter cut.  It seems that all their mega sets have been reprinted - I'm going to throw out most of my unused earlier sets now.  These new ones look really good in person, and - love it or hate it - their selection of artwork is pretty representative of the current scene.

-gfh

[tom mann]

Good stuff.  Any indication on the packaging as to what constitutes a new set? 

Also, I would love to see them post the prototype source.

[Scottl]

That is great news, I was just about to order the Blair sets. 

I've been working on my own graffiti as well, tracing out a variety of sources and cleaning them up for printing on white decal paper.  Some of the brush style solvent based waterproof markers look promising to color them up.  Some will be cleaned up scans to blend with the same markers. 

I also found (but did not buy) while visiting a store here  that Busch has graffiti decals.  They have two sets, with HO, TT and N combined on the sheet.  The quality looks good, and the HO decals would be suitable for bridges and buildings, while many of the TT would be OK on N trains.

[Scottl]

This is my favorite so far:  angry beaver!

[GaryHinshaw]

Good stuff.  Any indication on the packaging as to what constitutes a new set? 

Also, I would love to see them post the prototype source.

Yes, it says laser cut on the package, and on the decal sheet itself.  Their web site explicitly states which sets are laser cut (but you would never be able to tell from their site that the print resolution has improved as well...).  They have a few crappy source photos on their site: 

http://www.blairline.com/graffiti/

-gfh

P.S. Cool sample Scott.

[central.vermont]

Ward, weren't you a little hard on the Beav last night. 

Jon

[ljudice]

Any thinner? 

I agree they are excellent representations....

[peteski]

Dale at Blair Line used to print the graffiti decals using Alps printer.  Their Alps probably kick the bucket and he moved to laser printing on white film.  That, along with the ability to cut the white film to the exact shape of the printed images made using Alps obsolete for graffiti.  But Alps printers are still indispensable for things like white text on clear background. Alps (due to the way it prints) still produces very sharp images.  However, laser printing (with very fine halftones and slightly fuzzy edges) is perfect for graffiti.