If you know the design or picture you want (do your own on word or some other computer program if you like) you can print them yourself on the rice paper. I have done this before to use on a few boards I shaped myself and also to be glassed on a couple of customs I ordered. Rice paper can be sourced from art suppliers. I had no issues doing this and found it a very satisfying part of the creative process. Plus there was no foam dust or sticky resin to contend with. Win, win. Good luck with it.

Yes, it worked for me. I initially did a sample print and then tested it by glassing it on a scrap piece of foam. No runs or issues, so went ahead with the decals. I printed about 8-10 different pictures/designs and used most of them over a period with no problems. Best to try that yourself I suppose as I don't know if all printer inks are the same formulation. Maybe check with your board maker too. Good luck with it.

Most professional print shops can do it well to the size you want. Be aware, printing white can be problematic, so white is often transparent which lets through the underlying colour.

Print shops dunno WTF they are doing, and "rice paper' often isn't. They have no idea of our application. I spent forever looking for the correct paper and only found it on a big roll at an art place for $80 and enough to last a pro shaper a lifetime. But you'd still need to cut it up into A4's


Sorry if you got it sorted already but
(1) the custom guy should accomodate your wishes..?
(2) if not you can buy the correct paper with backing to run thru your printer at home from Sanded. (This saves you cutting rice paper and taping it to a backing sheet, I've done it and its a fkn PITA).
Site sponsor here too and I rate them. ....... sanded.com.au
At like $5 a sheet or whatever it is, just save the grief and buy that.

the thickness of laminate over the top cuts the UV down enough that normal inks don't fade heaps

Good on ya beachandbush. It has been a few years decades since I had a custom board shaped. But i still remember the excitement. And this sounds like a particularly special one. Share the details and some pics as the process unfolds, please. I reckon there's be a fair bit of interest in here (it's just hard to tell sometimes!)

Yeah bring on the board build stuff. As soon may recall I was a board ordering pig. Thank god that's behind me as even I had to admit it was madness. My last custom order was 15 months ago

My new custom has bee? completed with a personal group of decals. Although it won't be to everyone's taste this to me is a heritage board to pass down to my grandkids and possibly kids I'll never meet.
Poppy was a surfer and a great lover of the natural world. Each symbol has meaning in reflection to my life time work in conservation and restoration of Australian landscapes.
The colour is reflective of ochre from the arid lands.
Hand shaped by Jade Robinson DSN Surfboards as a copy of my favourite board which is about 30+ years old by some Irish bloke from Byron Bay.