TGM

They were transfer rub ons, a sheet full of different action heroes, or robots, or vehicles, and explosions and a background set piece where you would rub them on with a pencil and then peel them off leaving them on the background creating little action scenes, etc...

not colorforms as once they were rubbed on they couldn't be peeled off again...

E. Honda

Presto Magix?

wishbone

Yeah, that was what I was thinking too. I don't remember which ones I had though.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presto_Magix

TGM

yes! thanks.

damn... just looked, they no longer make them! bummer.

wishbone

There was a Colorforms version of this -- I had Zaxxon.

Abob Teff

I remember both of those ... couldn’t think of either name though.

Prehistoric photoshop.

story

I loved, loved, loved Presto Magix and Colorforms! I had tons of Return of the Jedi sets, hours of fun!

zyzzle

Great memories.These were very cool, simpler pleasures in the '70s to '80s! I think the smartphone has corrupted kids of today, they'd see these and put their noses up, but man, they required imagination and fostered creativity. Not just spoon-fed crap that kids hook into on their phones today.

majorjoe23

Just stop. You don’t know any kids.

fujishig

On the one hand, you can do cool, creative stuff on tablets and phones that far surpass scratching decals onto paper (and I loved those things as a kid, I did that hulk one multiple times). On the other hand, if given no direction my kids will just watch cartoons on it, so I can somewhat see your point.

If you take the tablet away, my kids are good with just drawing on a blank piece of paper, which is probably even better from a creativity standpoint, so older generations probably lamented these presto magic as corrupting the creativity of kids back in the day too. And don't get me started on the corruption that comics do to young minds.

cultshock

Presto Magix was awesome, I had a bunch of superhero ones.

davidh777

The ones I knew were called Letraset Action Transfers. I used to love these things! My favorite was El Cid, which was part of their large Super Action Transfers line.



The funny thing is that I almost started a thread about these last year but wasn't sure anyone would remember them. I was inspired because I was on a trip to the UK, and I ran across a similar line in the gift shop at Cardiff Castle.



This one seemed especially grim. It wasn't in the general gift shop but downstairs in the historical section.

Mabuse

Colorforms > Presto Magix

Zaxxon = best game

My 7 year old loves sticker books and iPad bullshit.

VHS?

I loved these things as a kid. I used to transfer them onto other shit though and get yelled at.
Was also a fan of Shrinky Dinks and I believe they still make those.

funkyryno

Wow. I totally forgot about these things. I remember the Zaxxon one was a blast. Too bad these are no longer made today, as I'm pretty sure my kids would enjoy them (with updated themes, of course).

zyzzle

Hey, some smart and rapacious capitalist should re-release these! They'd make millions and maybe convince some kids to throw away their smartphones. Win-win.

zyzzle

WRONG, sir, wrong!

I do know a few, and am very glad that it is not too many, for I must maintain my sanity....

fujishig

Or just make an app. And sell screen protectors after kids scratch their ipad screens all up.

funkyryno

Lo and behold, Colorforms are still around (and there's an app).

Abob Teff

OK, yes. Technically you know a few. But the court order still prevents you from going within 500 feet of them.