painting over playing cards : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

zukeeper · 07-12-2009, 10:32 PM

with enough clear , why can't it be pulled off ?? anybody try it ?? raining out leaves too much time for my mind to wonder lol

kustom_flames · 07-13-2009, 11:07 AM

Enough clear might mean 20 coats...

How are you going to get the cards to lay flat enough and stay in place, especially on a tank....

Traakon · 07-13-2009, 11:11 AM

I do remember seeing some mylar playing card decal/stickers somewhere that were half the thickness of card stock and flexable... but still.

zukeeper · 07-13-2009, 12:38 PM

but would you want it totoally smooth ??It might be a cool effect having ridges in the clear ?? the mylar cards might be an option ............... maybe a small amount of glue to hold them flat until cleared ??

springer- · 07-13-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukeeper

but would you want it totoally smooth ??It might be a cool effect having ridges in the clear ?? the mylar cards might be an option ............... maybe a small amount of glue to hold them flat until cleared ??

I think the point they are trying to make is how to make them lay flat on a rounded surface? The tank is not flat and the cards will not conform to the tank.

Traakon · 07-13-2009, 01:15 PM

Actually, and Kustom Flames can chime in, the cards would need to be securely afixed and not just "tacked" in place. The clear is not meant to hold things down ergo if the cards underneath lift or raise they will crack out of the clears edges.

kustom_flames · 07-13-2009, 03:00 PM

The cards would need to be sticky like a harley decal...HOWEVER, with the arc of a fanned out deck, there is NO way you will be able to get them on the tank and have them not bubble in spots...

If you really wanted to try it, I would recommend talking to a print shop and see if they can take an image of a playing card and then transfer it onto some sort of decal, thinnest possible non-laminated if you want to clear over it.

Have you ever applied stickers to a helmet...they don't always go on good and tend to bubble and ripple here and there...

Last option would be to go to that same print shop, and see if they can take an image of cards and attach to a magnet and you could take them on and off at will....

kustom_flames · 07-13-2009, 03:02 PM

Also if you do apply cards and hope to keep them in place with just an adhesive, you do run the risk of having the clear get under the cards and cause them to lift...you really would be better off with sticky backs anyhow...

hbmc · 07-13-2009, 03:05 PM

Why do you not just have them airbrushed on? I do not see any 3d effect you may want to achieve? Unless it is a money thing and you want to just shoot over cards with a rattle can? It may look just like that when finished. I thought Custom Flames tank pic looked great

Dave63 · 07-13-2009, 03:09 PM

Find a sign shop in your area. If you take them a digital picture on a disc, (sim card) they can make decals now from high resolution pictures, if they have the right machines. My local sign maker has one. He makes banners (10'x3') from ads he finds on the computer.... cool stuff.

Take a picture of the playing cards you want, on whatever background you want, or on plain white. Take them the pic, they make you decals, and they can make them on thinner then normal vinyl, and apply them to your painted tank, right before clear coating.

Or as stated.......have them airbrushed.

gsxrboy96 · 07-13-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukeeper

with enough clear , why can't it be pulled off ?? anybody try it ?? raining out leaves too much time for my mind to wonder lol

My buddy has done it a few times, with playing cards and 100 dollar bills, but the cards are entirely to thick, he uses rice paper copies instead.

zukeeper · 07-13-2009, 10:10 PM

not thinking of doing it , just wondering if it could be done................ was a thought that passed through what little mind I had. I can't paint very good but love to listen to you guys toss around ideas and work things out........... seemed like a fun topic

who did the paint on that tank Pat ??

kustom_flames · 07-14-2009, 09:06 AM

Not trying to scare ya out of it...just trying to share all the potential disasters that could go wrong....the rice paper idea seemed like a good one though...but again from experience it is difficult to apply decals to any type of curved surfaces...

Some jerk did it...

gsxrboy96 · 07-19-2009, 01:19 PM

heres a pic.

kustom_flames · 07-20-2009, 11:46 AM

That's cool! Problem with doing playing cards are the fact that they are laminated and the clear won't stick to them well without running...hence the rice paper trick your friend does.