So right now the paint on my baby is absolutely hideous. Just picked this bike up yesterday got it for only 700 on craigs. It has ~7k miles. anyways back on topic... The paint is totally ugly. It's a "custom" job by the guy who originally owned it. But there is an oversized ace of spades card somehow clearcoated underneath the tank right where a tank protector would go. Now originally I planned on getting the bike painted... but after 2 major financial setbacks in one day, that is seeming a lot less likely. So now I have this brand new idea.... what if i could just make some other oversized cards, print them out on ______ material, and somehow plaster them onto the tank. or maybe get the cards plastered on one big sheet that conforms to my tank then spray some sort of clear coat over it? The object of this little project is for it to be as easy and cheap as possible. This is only gonna be my summer bike for THIS summer, and I have absolutely NO painting experience or equipment. I just need a cheap easy way to plaster a sheet onto the tank that will last for 5 months. Also I need to know what material to print the card images onto... or if I should just use actual playing cards.

A graphics sign writer should be able to make you stickers to the size of your tank with a few designs. They usually do them up on a program on a pc then use a plotting machine to cut them out. Might be your best option. The vinyl they use for the decals is usually uv resistant so should last a while. You can peel it right off again if you wanted to paint the tank when you felt the need.

Yeah that sounds perfect! What do you mean a graphics sign writer company though? like a Fed Ex Kinkos? They claim to print like... everything.

You know the guys that put sticker signs on shop windows or sticker decals on cars for advertising? They also do all the sponsor advertising on race cars. I am not sure what you call them in the States as I am in Australia

http://www.signsbytomorrow.com/s_59_13_____OutdoorSolutions____/vinyl-lettering--truck-decal-vehicle-lettering-graphics.aspx

Where are you located.  I just so happen to have full access to a top of the line paint booth and equipment.  I'm on Cape Cod.

Getting some stickers made sounds like the best option, but it sounds potentially expensive.