Overglaze Decal Application Instructions
Our full color 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).
7. If you have a programable electric kiln, fire your decal piece using this firing schedule:
• 350°F / HR until 788°F hold for 0 min
• 400°F / HR until 1616°F hold for 15 min
• Shut off kiln and let cool
If you are using a manual or kiln sitter kiln please fire to cone 012 and use a slow increase until the kiln reaches 500 degrees F and then fire on a medium setting until cone 012.
Please Note - Our decals have a yellow flux coating that will fire off in the kiln and be glossy clear. Our non-metallic decals are food, microwave, dishwasher, oven safe and are very durable. There will be a slight raised line on your finished fired piece where you cut around the image so please cut as close to the image as possible for a seamless look. Additionally, fired colors will vary slightly and are not exact. Many things can affect the variation, your monitor, the color of your glaze, type of clay, and the kiln firing temperature please test decals first to see results.
