My idea revolves around a tool specifically for applying decals to ships, maybe some kind of paint spray gun? Although, liquids and gases would not work in space!

The tool would add a decal to your ship starting from the bottom left block of the decal. Left clicking once would apply a holographic decal to the ship. This will allow players to check that it is big enough and fits how you want it to, etc. If you're in creative mode left clicking again would instantly apply the whole decal, however, if you are in survival, you still see the holograph apart from on the block you have painted. Players would then have to fly over all the blocks and use the tool to apply it.

Pressing a specific key bind whilst using the tool would open an inventory to allow you to pick the decal image you're after. All the images available for decals should come from a folder that is easy to find (That way we can add our own!), and all images will have to be the same file type, I imagine (.png, .jpeg, etc). This way, decals can easily be shared too amongst people too. If it is necessary to create a new file type just for the purpose of decals, it’d be nice if a converter was made available, although not necessarily by you guys, you’ve got plenty on your plate at the minute!

The image size should not be within a set maximum and minimum if at all possible. This way decals can cover any size of ship without having to be complicated and split into smaller chunks. Any would be space artists will just need to know how big one side of a block is, (AxB pixels). This number could then be multiplied to cover as many blocks as is required. The image can then be made to size, added to the folder and then applied to ships in game through the interface.

Maybe some way of altering the size of your decal could be included with the tool, just in case. Sort of like dragging the sides of an image in Photoshop. This could possibly be achieved by holding a button for that tool and pressing the arrow keys.

My idea will allow for faction names, logos, and all manner of other things to be painted onto ships. The current method of writing on ships is colouring individual blocks to make letters, it takes up way too much space. Decals will increase the amount of customisation available to players and I imagine it will increase the immersion too. People will be able to design whole fleets of ships all based around their own company, government or celestial cult.