Milestone Decal Art
Glass Decal Basics
Silkscreen or Digital. Borosilicate, Fused Glass or Glassware. Learn more about the range decal options Milestone offers glass artists.
How Glass Decals are Made
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.
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 for Glass
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. Each glass 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 glass products.
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 three different silkscreen ceramic decal types- Fusing, Drinkware and Borosilicate.
Food Safe Fusing Decals
Milestone Decal Art fusing decals can be fired to 1250°F to 1470°F/ 675°C to 800°C.
Our fusing decals come in a wide variety of colors including 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
Non-metallic colors are microwave and dishwasher safe. Precious metal colors are not microwave safe and are top-rack dishwasher resistant.
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.
Food Safe Glassware Decals
Milestone Decal Art low temperature, food safe glassware decals are fired to ~1180°F/ 640°C.
They are available variety of colors including 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
These low temperature glass decals can be safely fired without slumping the glass. They can be used on wine or pint glasses, cups, recycled bottles or even previously fused or slumped glass.
These food safe low temperature decals are not dishwasher safe. Precious metal colors are not microwave safe.
Leaded Glassware Decals
Milestone Decal Art low temperature, food safe glassware decals are fired to ~1050°F/ 565°C.
They are available variety of colors including 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
These low temperature glass decals can be safely fired without slumping the glass. They can be used on wine or pint glasses, cups, recycled bottles or even previously fused or slumped glass.
These leaded low temperature decals are not dishwasher safe. Precious metal colors are not microwave safe.
Glow in the Dark
Milestone Decal Art exclusive phosphorescent decals are fired at ~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 food-safe and should be hand-washed for durability.
About Digital Decals
Digital decals are printed with a relatively modern technique using powdered mineral toners in a modified office printer. Digital decals semi-transparent and work best on white or light colored glass. Digital decals are fired to fusing temperature 1470°F/ 800°C.
Not Food Safe Fusing Decals
Milestone Decal Art fusing decals can be fired to 1250°F to 1470°F/ 675°C to 800°C.
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.
The color of a digital decal is less dense than a silkscreen decal. For best results should be used on white or light colored glass.
The decals are not food-safe.
Food Safe Fluxed Glassware Decals
Milestone Decal Art digital glassware decals can be fired to ~1180°F/ 640°C.
The flux is a thin layer of glass applied over the whole sheet of decals. The flux has a thickness that will leave a raised edge wherever you will cut the decals.
Digital decals are ideal for capturing finely detailed photographic prints. Due to the nature of the powdered minerals used to print digital decals, the images are semi-transparent.
The decals are food-safe.