Milestone Decal ARt
Ceramic Decal Basics
Silkscreen or Digital. Overglaze or Inglaze. Learn more about the range decal options Milestone offers ceramic artists.
What is a Ceramic Decal?
Ceramic waterslide decals are made by printing images on special paper coated in a water-soluble glue. The images are then completely covered with a coating that binds to the print.
Not to be confused by a tissue paper transfer which is applied facedown, our decals are released from the paper and applied face-up, the image oriented exactly as printed on the paper.
When the decal is wet, the image is released from the paper with the covercoat, applied to an already glazed surface and fired in a ceramic kiln.
Once fired the inorganic covercoat burns off and the organic mineral-based colors become permanently fused to the glaze.
Detailed firing instructions can be found in the FIRING INFO menu.
Silkscreen vs. Digital Decals
Milestone Decal Art offers a variety of decal printing options to suit your needs. Both silkscreen and digital decal printing processes result in a waterslide decal transfer that is kiln-fired as a third firing onto an already glazed surface. Each decal printing method offers distinct advantages.
Silkscreen vs. Digital Decal
Milestone Decal Art offers decals printed using both Silkscreen and Digital methods. Each method has its own set of pros and cons.
Silkscreen vs. Digital Decal
Silkscreen prints are usually printed with 1-8 colors; each color requires the creation of a different screen. This method results in high-contrast images with very little gradient.
Digital prints better capture multi-colored images with gentle gradients.
About Silkscreen Decals
Silkscreen decals are printed using a centuries-old technique in which liquid toners are pressed through a screen to provide a dense, opaque color print. This decal printing process is commonly used in commercial tableware like Lenox China or Limoges porcelain.
Each color in a silkscreen print requires the creation of an individual screen. The resulting print is crisp with sharply defined areas of color and little to no color gradient.
Milestone Decal Art offers two different silkscreen ceramic decal colorsets - Overglaze and Inglaze.
Inglaze
Milestone Decal Art Inglaze Silkscreen decals are fired at Cone 04-10/ 1920°F - 2340°F/ 1050°C - 1280°C.
Cone 6 Inglaze decals are kiln-fired to high temperatures. The printed images actually sink into the glaze. This creates a softer, more fluid look to the image, similar to classic Delftware. A lower firing temperature will offer a more define image.
Inglaze decals have a limited color palette, for example we cannot print metallic luster decals for cone 6 firing.
The inglaze decals are food safe and extremely durable as embedded in the glaze.
Overglaze Decals
Milestone Decal Art offers silkscreen-printed overglaze decals in a wide variety of colors including real 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
Our overglaze decals are fired to Cone 018/ 1470°F/ 800°C. Silkscreen overglaze decals are lead-free and food-safe. Non-metallic colors are microwave and dishwasher safe. Precious metal colors are not microwave safe and are top-rack dishwasher resistant, however hand-washing is recommended.
We know our customers value transparency; as do we. So we make the extra commitment to ensure that our precious metal toners are supplied by companies who commit to the conflict-free pledge.
Glow in the Dark
Milestone Decal Art exclusive phosphorescent decals are fired at Cone 022/ 1050°F/ 565°C.
Like traditional glow-in-the-dark items, the decals need to be exposed to light for them to glow. They come in various daytime colors and emit the classic green glow when the lights are out. They look great in UV blacklight as well!
The decals are not foodsafe and should be handwashed for durability.
About Digital Decals
Digital decals are printed with a relatively modern technique using powdered mineral toners in a modified office printer. The nature of the powdered toner, gives digital prints a somewhat matte, textured feel after firing.
Digital decals are considered overglaze decals and are thus fired to the same temperature as overglaze silkscreen decals, that is cone 018/ 1470F/ 800C. They are applied as a third firing over an already fired glaze.
The color of a digital decal is less dense than a silkscreen decal. For best results, digital decals should be used on light colored glazes or over clear glazed, light-colored clay body.
Colorful Illustrations
Milestone Decal Art uses state of the art laser printers to render high-quality prints. In contrast with the blockiness of the silkscreen print, the digital decal print captures subtle color gradients.
Photographic Prints
Digital decals are great for finely detailed photographic prints.
