I'm making my first customs... not really customs, more a paint job. I'm painting a 1983 Cobra S.N.A.K.E. one blue and another one red.

Should I apply my new stickers directly on acrylic paint and after applying an clear acrylic coat of paint or should I first put a clear coat of paint and after my stickers?

Based on normal toys, we put stickers on top of everything. But, If I put a clear coat of paint on top of everything, I may keep my stickers clean.

Have you try both ways? What are your conclusions?

Thanks,

Martin

_________________

I put my stickers on then Dullcote(tm) over everything.

_________________

Waterslide stickers, or self adhesive?
I put (waterslide) stickers on, then "paint" them with watered down white glue, which dries clear, then I dulcote. I've had Dulcote destroy (waterslide) stickers so I seal them with the glue.

_________________

If it's adhesive paper stickers, I spray a gloss clear coat over the full sheet after I've printed them. I usually give it about 4 coats. After letting the sheet sit for a day I'll cut them out and put them on the vehicle. At this point the stickers get another clear coat. I hit the full vehicle. Sometimes I'll use tissues to paint super glue over the sticker to really seal it and brighten it. It depends on what the sticker is over and what the vehicle is.

_________________

So, all of you will paint a clear coat over the stickers... or even are using glue... hummm... never thought about glue before...

I'm a little bit surprised that nobody will just put stickers over the finishing paint. I know it will keep the stickers clean and clear the other way, but if you need to replace those (for any reason) it will be a mess... but why would I have to replace them? ... good question... no answer...

I'm still undecided...

Martin

_________________

Yeah if you protect the sticker with a coat over it, you shouldn't need to replace it. If you actually play with the custom and mess up a sticker, well you'll probably have a lot more to worry with than just the sticker. So it shouldn't be a problem really.

I put together one of those "radio units" that CabanaJack upload from the old G.I.Joe cereal box. I coated it with 5 layers of gloss clear coat. It came out looking nice. It looks like it has a wax paper coating over it. I glued it to cardboard afterwards and then I superglued the seams when I folded it together. I shot it with another coat of clear gloss after I finished.

You can probably get away with just applying the stickers to your custom and not spray another layer of clear coat. Just spray the sticker sheet with enough clear coat so that it looks nice, then cut the stickers out with a sharp exacto. Clear coat your custom and give both a full day to dry, then put the stickers on.

_________________