The decals that can be printed are so-called Waterslide decals, these are very thin stickers that are soaked in water to release. They are perhaps best known as the stickers from model building kits or as the decals for nails. Waterslide decals can be applied to all non-porous surfaces such as leather, glass, ceramics, metal, plastics and can be used on porous surfaces which are sealed or varnished such as wood and cardboard. The best result is achieved on flat or slightly sloping surfaces or around cylindric shapes. The laser decals are susceptible to decal solvents and softeners such as Microscale's MicroSol and MicroSet but also other brands.
The decals and the laser prints are water-resistant in themselves, so they do not have to be varnished before processing, but after applying it is advisable to seal the decal on the substrate with acrylic-based lacquer so that it no longer comes loose and is less quickly damaged. This depends on the application because for static scale models varnishing is not necessary, for example on a bicycle frame it is.
The decals can also be baked on substrate like glass, ceramics, metal and some plastics (if the latter can withstand the temperature) this can be done in an oven at 200 degrees Celsius for about 10-20 minutes. After this the items are usually dishwasher safe, but the advice is to wash by hand.
At PrintMetWit, printing is done with an Oki Pro Series 5-color printer, making it possible to print not only with color but also with white. This white can be printed standalone (visible white) and as a spot color (white underneath colors), making opaque colors possible on transparent media. This printer is of excellent quality and can even print photos beautifully.
The smallest letter height that the printer can handle (depending on the font) is approximately 0.6-0.7 mm. Prints can be used outside unprotected for around 3-5 months, for a longer outdoor life, UV-resistant measures should be taken in the form of a cold laminate foil or an automotive acrylic-based clearcoat or another UV-resistant coating or varnish (testing for compatibility is required).