Making Guitar Peghead Decals

Fret Not Decal

I make peghead decals for instruments I make and customize but do not offer it as a service. Graphics design can be a very time consuming and highly personal undertaking, just not my cup of tea. So in response to those who frequently ask me....here's how I do it.

I use Adobe Photoshop CS4 software to design my graphic, but other graphic software like Adobe Photoshop Elements would usually be sufficient. The PNG format is often a good choice due to it's lossless resizing capabilities. I print several samples using various font sizes. I use these samples to determine what font size, spacing and shape complements the shape of the peghead best.

Once I've got my design down I print the graphic on Premium Clear Inkjet Decal Paper using an ordinary inkjet printer. Inkjet printer? Yes, the trick is to overspray the printed decal with Clear Lacquer Spray Paint which seals the ink and makes it waterproof...skip that step and you'll have a runny mess on your hands once the decal is immersed in water.  I spray a thin first coat so the ink does not run or bleed and then apply one or two more coats to insure it is completely covered and ready for soaking. It's just like applying a model car decal as you can slide the decal around until the perfect location is found.
After the decal is in place, pat it gently to flatten it out and remove bubbles and then let it dry. You can then apply lacquer over the peghead if you like to smooth the surface and further protect the decal. The picture above shows the decal in place prior to overspraying the peghead and you can see the edges of the decal thickness, that will disappear once the peghead is sprayed as a whole.
 

For those of you who are graphically challenged T & L Ink also offers a simple decal which does not require overspraying. Click on their logo for more info.