All techniques used in ceramics are fallible, including ceramic decals. That makes ceramics unique. And by that I really mean ceramics are always a “one-off”.

In ceramic industry, techniques are used that ensure products are very similar. But even in this well controlled environment there are always small (minimal) differences. In fact, there is always a percentage that fails due to “production errors”.

No matter how well the ceramist controls the process, failure in the production of ceramics is unavoidable. If the specifications do not fall exactly within the set frameworks, the product is irrevocably thrown onto the ceramics waste pile (the potter’s heartbreak).

And that’s fortunate, because these mountains of ceramic shards are invaluable for research into the history of ceramics. But that’s a whole different story.

An industrial decoration technique

To come back to the ceramic decals or transfers as they sometimes are called. This is an industrial decoration technique par excellence. In short, this is a way of “painting” a decoration on a tile or plate not by hand, but with the help of a “decal”. A special kind of transfer that transports the decoration from one carrier (sheet of paper) to another (the ceramic).

Exactly the same as the decal in packs of chewing gum that I used to put on my arm (I had different tattoos quite young, always been a trendsetter 🙂 ).

That sounds simple and it is, compared to hand painting the decoration. But of course it’s not that simple. As with all ceramic techniques, it is always more unique than you might think…

Playful learning

I see ceramic decals mainly as an industrial production process. Something I usually don’t use… But I’m always interested. Also in all “forbidden” decoration techniques.

In a goodie bag from Keramikos (a Dutch supplier for ceramic materials) a few years ago, I found a number of decals with various images. Of course I first consulted some literature and studied the information from the manufacturer, before we (me and my girlfriend) started playing with it.

We decorated and fired (the so called “third firing”) a number of test tiles. At about 800 C (1472 F) the images were nicely burned into the glaze. A vivid image neatly transferred to ceramics.

To my surprise, the image also appeared to survive the dishwasher. In short, a successful experiment, which I have kept in the back of my mind.

Tailor-made ceramic decals

Recently I was working on a project to which I had to add a text (afterwards). An ideal opportunity to use the transfer technique. Of course I was now (however modest) going to make my own design.

With contemporary graphic design tools a piece of cake… although, settings like the DPI, color in HEX, RGB or CMYK, and things like that I had to check .

But with the help of the description of SDL Producties (the printing compagny), I was able to draw up my design to the right specifications and have it printed. A few days later my designed decals where on my doormat and I was able to finish my assignment.

Design applied on to the piece, fired and ready. A perfect result. All’s well that ends well.. Or was it?

Ceramics decals: expect the unexpected

I was very happy with the results …. because I tested the decals first. If you want to have a specific result, you should always test it first. After more than 25 years of making ceramics, this is almost a matter of course for me.

So mindlessly, I first tried the transfer on a few test plates (with the same glaze) with the same firing schedule I had already used (and saved!) a few years ago.

The test came out perfectly and so I used the same process for the real project. But when I fired this project I also thrown in a few extra test pieces. On other glazes and with different decal colors … And you guessed it, they didn’t come out the way I expected.

The red had completely faded (on one particular glaze, not on the other) and with another test the glaze had started to “fizz”. A great result!

Red decals can’t take that much heat. Glazes underneath also affects the fired color of the decals. And in addition, not all my glazes can be re-fired at 800 C (1472 F). In short, I learned a lot.

Life lesson: you always have to test, test and test!

A great result that I wouldn’t have liked on a piece from an assignment. Every time you fire ceramics, complex reactions are triggered. You can’t foresee everything, you have try it first. That’s what makes ceramics so engaging and unique, just like life.

Fortunately, with ceramics you can test everything first That’s not possible in life, unfortunately. You’re going to have to do that right the first time, won’t you?

About Post Author

Daniel Bende

Designs and creates under the trade name DFB-ceramics hand-thrown stoneware figurative ceramics.

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