This listing is for one approximately 5.25 inch x 4 inch (13.3 x 10 cm) sheet of overglaze decals. 

These decals can be used with ceramic, porcelain, glass fusing and enamel firing.  Once applied these decals need to be fired in a kiln.  They cannot be fired in a home oven.

These low temperature decals are generally applied as a third firing on top of an already fired glaze. Once applied, these decals need to be fired in a kiln to CONE 018 to CONE 016 (1450°F / 800°C).  Once fired, the decals become permanently fused with the glaze, similar to decorative dinnerware.

All water slide overglaze decals are food safe and lead free. They should be applied after your ceramic piece has been glaze fired and work best over a white or light-colored glaze as they are semitransparent. 

Materials Needed 

• Overglaze Decal Sheet
• Glazed ceramic piece to apply decal to
• Bowl of warm water
• Plastic rib tool (I use the yellow Y3 mud tools rib) or a roller also works
• Sharp scissors
• Rubbing alcohol
• Lint free cloth
• Kiln ☺ 

1. Begin with using your lint free cloth and clean the area of the piece you are applying decals to with the rubbing alcohol to make sure all the oils from your skin and dust is off the surface. 

2. Cut out the decal you want to use with scissors. We recommend cutting as close to the image as possible because the durable flux top coat will leave a slight line where you cut the decal out.

3. Place the decal in a bowl of warm water and wait about 30 seconds or until you are able to gently slide the decal from the paper backing. 

4. Slide the decal off the paper backing onto your ceramic piece making sure you leave the decal face up. 

5. Hold your decal in place and starting in the center use your rib or roller to press the decal onto the ceramic piece like you would a sticker on a car window. You want to be sure to start in the center and fan outwards to get all the bubbles out. Try to fan from the inside out over the edge so you don’t accidently pick up or rip the decal. 

6. Carefully dry your decal with a new lint free cloth, again working from the center and working out. Allow the decal to dry overnight or at minimum until no moisture is left (about 6 hours).

        

We want our customers to feel safe and informed.  We want to empower you to make appropriate decisions about your work.  If you are making products intended for food use or you intend on selling your products in California you will need to be informed about FDA and California Prop 65 safety laws.

FUMES DURING THE FIRING PROCESS

The covercoat on the decals is made of organic materials that will burn off during the firing process between 400F and 800F and should be vented to the outside. The fume might be noxious and we strongly recommend using the combination of a Orton VentMaster (inside the kiln type ventilation) combined with a hood ventilation above the kiln to insure that all fumes are safely vented to the outside. 

LEAD FREE CERAMIC DECALS AND FOOD SAFETY

All of our silkscreen ceramic decals and glass decals are printed using lead and cadmium free colors.  However decorating your pieces using lead free ceramic decals does not ensure that your glaze, glass or kiln doesn't harbor heavy metals. 

Some of our digital decals are printed using colors containing trace amounts of lead.  We have had products using these colors tested by an independent laboratory and those products were found to meet FDA standards.  However, this does not mean that your product will meet FDA standards or Proposition 65 safety standards.   To ensure that your product meets FDA and/ or Prop 65 standards we recommend having your product tested by a reputable lab such as Bureau Veritas.  

LEAD FREE CERAMIC AND GLASS PRODUCTS

To ensure that your ceramics and glassware are lead free and cadmium free, is it absolutely necessary to apply lead/ cadmium free decals on lead/ cadmium free glazes and glasses.  Lead free ceramics and glass pieces should not be fired together with those containing lead as the resulting emissions could release heavy metals.  Lead free colors could then become contaminated with lead. 

Because there are various points in the production process where heavy metals can be introduced, it is necessary that the end user tests their product according to the relevant standard procedures for all products manufactured under his/her technical production conditions.  If you intend on selling your products in California, you will need to be aware of safety regulations outlined in Proposition 65. 

WHAT IS PROPOSITION 65 (AKA PROP 65)?

The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, referred to as Proposition 65, requires that consumers be warned about products that may contain one of over 850 listed substances.  Among these substances are lead and cadmium.   If you test your product and it is found to exceed Prop 65 limits, Califorina law requires warnings be provided to inform consumers of the potential exposure to the toxic chemicals.  Proposition 65 does not ban any product from being sold, it just requires a warning to the consumer. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

The information we provide here is only intended to be used as advice and is not legally binding.  We want you to be informed to make proper choices, but we are not liable for any damages caused by unsafe products.

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.

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.

Cone 018

• Can be custom mixed to a wide-range of color options.
• Are known as "overglaze" because the flux-containing pigments fuse to the surface of the glaze. The fired images are crisp and clear.
• Come in a wider variety of colors, including all 3 lusters- Gold, Platinum or Copper.

Cone 06

• Also known as "inglaze" decals because the pigmented prints actually sink into the glaze during firing.
• Provide options for artists that fire in shared kilns. Some studios rarely fire to Cone 017, so this allows artists to fire decals in the kiln with other mid-temp caly firings.
• They can actually be fired to a range- from Cone 04 to Cone 10!   The hotter they're fired, the more the image softens, resulting in a fuzzy, Delft-like appearance. Tile on left was fired to Cone 04. The right was fired to Cone 10. Note the diffused color at higher firing temp.
•  

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/ 80OC. 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.