All Glossary

Ceramic Transfer

A method for applying designs underglaze. Water-based colorants are silk-screened onto rice or tissue paper, dried, then the paper is applied, color-side-down, to a leather hard clay surface. Using a damp sponge and rib the paper is rubbed down and then peeled up to reveal the transfer. Designs can also be transferred to dry or bisque. Of course, if ware is going to be glazed the pigment must be designed as an underglaze.

Standard design transfers can be purchased online at many places. They are inexpensive and come with good instructions. Having custom transfers made can be complicated and expensive, the process is easy enough to merit silk screening your own.

Related Information

An underglaze tissue transfer with clear overglaze at cone 6

This was applied at leather hard stage on Plainsman M370, bisque fired on, dipped in clear G2926B glaze, then fired at cone 6. The transfer was purchasing online and is made using the silky screening process. Since the pigment contains cobalt it does feather somewhat at the edges, this would be less of an issue at low temperature.

Ceramic tissue transfers: Good goat, better pig

These are whiteware mugs (Plainsman M370) with tissue transfer designs that were applied at the leather hard stage. The pieces were then dried, bisque firing, clear glazed and then fired to cone 6. Tissue transfers are sold online in a wide range of designs (in full color also). They can also be made at home by silk screening the appropriate type of ink onto the tissue paper (you can make your own ink using ceramic pigments). These overglaze transparent recipes are G2934 matte (left) and G2926B glossy (right). The matte glaze softens the edges of the design. The pig is a good demonstration of how crisp the edges of lines can be (once the application techniques are mastered). This method of decorating is far less expensive than decals. And does not require an extra firing. While the ink is somewhat powdery, it can be stabilized with spray starch if pieces need to be transported for firing.

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