as will be explained below in this preferred embodiment the decal transfer set forth as an example in fig3 is comprised of a decal layer 20 formed of a flexible film which may be pigmented and or printed in one or more colors to form a decorative layer a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 21 carried by the rear surface of the decal layer for adhering the decal layer to a substrate and a strippable release sheet 24 adhered to the adhesive layer for protecting the adhesive layer prior to the application of the decal layer to the substrate decals such as this may be embodied as accent stripes pinstripes decorative designs or motifs or as protective coatings with or without decoration decal transfers such as this are well known in the art and the particular decal transfer set forth above is provided by way of illustration and not of limitation the invention can alternatively be embodied with other well known types of decals such as decals in which multiple layers are adhered to the substrate or with decals having a different adhesive system such as a water activated adhesive in the illustrated embodiment the release sheet is comprised of a silicone release coat 22 and a sheet of backing material 23 such release sheets are well known in the art in the preferred embodiment of fig3 the premask is comprised of a transparent polymeric film 30 a metal layer 31 and a releasable adhesive coating 32 the polymeric film can be any clear film such as polypropylene polystyrene polyethylene polyester or acrylic polyester is particularly preferred because of its heat resistance as will be explained in the discussion of paintable premasked decals below and is available from du pont under the the trademark.