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Yes, decals are not suitable for most of the high end shit we do, and I've only ever done graphics in paint, but they have their place. I think ruling out the use of decals completely is a bit off putting for some people.
Like I said, I've never used them up til now, but if somebody specifically asked me to use a set of supplied decals for some specific reason, who am I to tell them no.
Colour matching is the easy part.
Decals/graphics can be a bit of a pig.
Transfer/sticker kits are a bit naff...
Some can react badly to the solvents in paint products and bubble or even dissolve.
They aren't resilient to heat so you can't assist the curing process or polish over them very well.
They create a barrier between the clearcoat and the paint so there is no chemical bond... meaning the finish is as strong as the glue on the back of the transfer.
You can see the edges. BLEURGH!
You can FEEL the edges. DOUBLE BLEURGH!
They can fade significantly in sunlight.
I think most painters will agree that decals should be painted on. It just represents a far superior level of finishing throughout.