Decoupage is simply gluing paper patterns onto a surface and sealing the surface and edges with glue. It can be used for small, fine details that you either can't paint or would rather not paint. Decoupage is perfect for applying logos, chest symbols, decals, tattoos, or patterns onto customized action figures.

Materials

• paper: not too stiff or thick
• scissors: preferably with a very sharp and small pointy tip for detail work
• glue: Elmer's white glue or blue gel, or diluted "tacky" glue
• paint brush: medium-sized with soft bristles; not your favorite one
• computer: to download, scan, or draw your decal (optional)
• color printer: ink-jet or laser (optional)

Conforms to figure's molded contours.

Process

1. Paint your figure as usual. Decoupage will be the last step before sealing.

2. Create the symbol (or other item) that you would like to apply to your figure. You can scan the item from source material (like a comic book), download it from a fan web site, or draw it yourself using pen and markers or your favorite painting software.

3. Print out your work at the best resolution your printer can manage. I usually end up printing several sizes so that I can pick the one that is closest in scale to the figure.

4. Cut out the symbol as perfectly as you can. I use craft scissors made especially for fine, tiny cutting, which I found in the craft/sewing section of Wal-Mart.

5. Dilute your glue just slightly with plain water and brush a thin layer of glue on the entire back side of the cut-out decal. Press the decal onto the figure; you'll have a few seconds to adjust its placement. Don't worry about glue squishing out from under it; you'll be going over the edges with more glue anyway. Just don't let the decal dry with any texture or bumps. Smooth the glue with your dampened brush before it dries.

Is generally more precise than a paintbrush.

6. Now that your decal is in place, use a damp cotton swab to gently press the glue-wet paper into muscle grooves and other details. The dampened paper fibers will stretch just enough to conform to most details.

NOTE: Don't rub with the swab! If you do, you might rub the ink off the paper or even cause little rolled-up clumps of paper fiber to form. Yuck! Just press straight down, dampening the swab as necessary to make the paper become more malleable.

7. Let the decal dry a little; this will help it "set." Then brush a thin layer of glue over the entire decal, going over the edges and letting the glue pool a little against the edges. The goal of true decoupage is to put so many layers of glue that you can't feel the edge of the paper at all when you run your finger over it. That's not really necessary for our purposes, but I do recommend at least 2-3 layers of glue over the top of the decal to protect it and to keep it from peeling up at the edges. Be sure to let the glue dry between coats, and keep the glue thin as you brush it on. You don't want brush tracks, lumps, or noticeable edges.

8. When it's completely dry, I recommend that you spray-seal your entire figure to keep dampness from affecting the glue. The sealer will also conceal any remaining differences between the sheen of your paint and the sheen of the glue (which tends to dry dull). I use matte acrylic sealer by Plaid.

Is good for symbols, belts, and cuffs.

Below are some other helpful notes about the decoupage technique.

Brush Maintenance

White and tacky glue washes out of brushes easily with water if you rinse the brush before it dries. While you're working with the decoupage (you generally can't stop to wash your brush), put the brush in a cup of water to keep it from drying out until you have time to rinse it thoroughly. Sometimes even after a thorough rinsing you get a little invisible residue left over, though, and then your brush dries stiff or a little stuck together. So you will probably want to use a cheapo brush that you don't mind ruining and/or replacing if it gets gummed up. But don't get such a cheapo brush that pieces of bristle break off or fall out; that would obviously stick in the glue and ruin your decoupage. Get a medium-sized brush with soft bristles. Or use one of your older "good" brushes.

Optimal Conditions

I used decoupage for the lightning bolt bands around my animated-style Flash's waist and arms, and it worked well. However, I am not sure that decoupage would work as well for the lightning bolt bands (or something similar) on a realistic-style custom. It worked for the AS Wally mainly because the arms & waist were very smooth. Also, the smaller the paper decal is, the harder it is to work into the muscle grooves and other details without tearing, wrinkling, or distorting.

Good luck and happy customizing!