Originally waterslide decals were made with a heavy gelatin compound. This stuff was terrific, but the process required some very special equipment and special gelatin. You could not have printed them on either an inkjet nor a laser printer. Today's printable waterslide decal paper is a forward step in that "everyman" can use it and since it comes in either white or clear you have a myriad of possibilities for it. As for how it lasts...very well. Once it is applied and cured about the only way to remove it is to soak in vinegar and it may take a while. But as I've mentioned here many times, if you use an inkjet printer the decal must be sprayed with a clear paint (enamel, urethane, etc). If you use the laser print paper, get your decal to the proper size and take this file (jpg file) to FedEx/Kinko's or any commercial printer with a color laser printer (unless you're making black/white only and then you can do that on a common laser like HP, Brother, etc).

~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end