I prefer the decal, it was much easier than painting, and turned out much neater as well. I did not have to use any spray sealant. Maybe you got ripped off. There are special solvents you use to ease the decal on, and there is a "setting" solvent, but they were about $2 each for small bottles. I know that for every decal on my whole Fett suit I spent <$10, total, and I had extra paper and tons of solvent left over. I also put a clear coat of paint over mine, and there was no running. They have also been rained on, and nothing happened to them from that, either.