Rimas VisGirda on sat 5 dec 09
Almost everything I know about decals.
=C2
The following=3D
=3D0A=3D0AAlmost everything I know about decals.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=
=3D0AThe following=3D
is a general description of decals -and=3D0Aas we all know there are alway=
s =3D
exceptions to a rule=3DE2=3D80=3DA6=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AWater-slid=
e ceramic decals c=3D
an be separated into 2=3D0Abasic types On-Glaze and In-Glaze. Both require =
a =3D
non-water-soluble ink/image=3D0Aand some sort of cover coat to hold the pri=
nt=3D
ed image together. Once printed,=3D0Acover-coated and dried, the decal is p=
ut=3D
into (warm) water until the image is=3D0Areleased from the backing paper. =
Th=3D
e image can then be slid onto a smooth glazed=3D0Asurface; water and air is=
t=3D
hen squeegeed out and the decal is allowed to dry=3D0Aonto the glaze. Firin=
g =3D
temperatures differ for in-glaze and on-glaze decals.=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A=
=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D
=3D0AON-GLAZE DECALS=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AOn-glaze decals are the m=
ost common and=3D
use enamels=3D0A(aka overglazes/china paints) as ink for the printed image=
a=3D
nd are applied onto=3D0Aa fired (glossy) glaze. The piece is then fired aga=
in=3D
to the appropriate=3D0Atemperature for the enamel to melt and attach itsel=
f =3D
to the underlying glaze=3D0Athereby resulting with the image on the=3D0Agla=
ze, =3D
hence the term on-glaze=3D0Adecal. Decals can be printed using a number of =
pr=3D
ocesses.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0ASerigraphy/screen printing is the eas=
iest for the=3D
individual. Multi color=3D0Aprints are easy with a simple manual color sep=
ar=3D
ation and some type of=3D0Aregistration system. A basic screen-printing tex=
t =3D
can be referred to for=3D0Aspecific step-by-step directions. The only diffe=
re=3D
nce for ceramics is the ink=3D0Aand a cover-coat. If you look for custom de=
ca=3D
l ads in CM, this is how usually=3D0Athose are produced; you can send them =
an=3D
image and get decals of that image in=3D0Areturn. Ready to screen enamel i=
nk=3D
s are available commercially or can be made=3D0Aby the individual. I use AM=
AC=3D
O oil base Versa Colors which come wet and of=3D0Aproper screening consiste=
nc=3D
y.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AOffset printing=3D0Ais typically how many c=
ommercial (aka=3D
open stock) decals are printed. This=3D0Aallows for a 4-color separation p=
ro=3D
cess that allows for photographic or multi=3D0Acolored prints. However an e=
nt=3D
ire press must be dedicated to the enamels (as=3D0Ainks). This is the proce=
ss=3D
whereby most open stock decals are made.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0ADigi=
tal printing=3D
=3D0Arequires an ink-jet printer and toners with enamels as the ink. This i=
s =3D
the=3D0Asystem that Fred Paget (in a previous post) has bought into. It req=
ui=3D
res a=3D0Acomputer, printer and the special cartridges; I briefly looked in=
to=3D
this and=3D0Afound that the supporting technology can be quite expensive. =
Ea=3D
sy Decals is a=3D0Acompany that will make your decal for you using this sys=
te=3D
m=3DC2=3DA0 (http://easyceramicdecals.com/).=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AI=
N-GLAZE DECALS=3D
=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0ASerigraphy is=3D0Athe most convenient process=
to print in-g=3D
laze decals and is exactly the same as=3D0Afor on-glaze decals EXCEPT that =
in=3D
stead of enamels one will use an (oil based)=3D0Aink made with oxides or st=
ai=3D
ns. The resulting decals can be applied to a glazed=3D0Asurface, just like =
on=3D
-glaze BUT then the piece is fired to the maturing=3D0Atemperature of the g=
la=3D
ze; the molten glaze absorbs the oxide/stain into itself=3D0Aand the result=
in=3D
g image is in the=3D0Aglaze, hence the term in-glaze. I=3D0Aknow of no sour=
ce o=3D
f oil base oxide/stain inks, they can be made by the=3D0Aindividual. This s=
ou=3D
nds like what Hank Murrow (a previous post) did in the 70's=3D0Aat Anderson=
R=3D
anch. His supplier was most likely AWT World Trade Inc, they may=3D0Ahave b=
ee=3D
n known under another name 40 years ago. I use AWT screens for my=3D0Aworks=
ho=3D
ps.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0ALaser printer=3D0Adecals have gained popul=
arity since th=3D
eir introduction about 10 years ago.=3D0AFrank Gaydos (a previous post) des=
cr=3D
ibed this system in detail at his site=3D0A=3D0Ahttp://home.comcast.net/~fr=
ankg=3D
aydos/Decal-1.html. This system results in a sepia image and the strength o=
=3D
f=3D0Athe image relies on the propensity of the glaze to eat iron oxide; so=
me=3D
glazes are more caustic and will result=3D0Ain a weaker image than others.=
I=3D
f the decal is under fired the result will rub=3D0Aoff the glaze, if the im=
ag=3D
e is over fired the result has a tendency to sink into the glaze and appear=
=3D
very dilute. If the decal is=3D0Afired properly it will result in an in-gl=
az=3D
e image; typically tests need to be=3D0Arun to determine the optimum temper=
at=3D
ure for a decal/glaze combination. Recently=3D0AI heard, from a grad studen=
t =3D
at SUNY-New Palz, that HP (due to ecological=3D0Aconcerns?) has eliminated =
ir=3D
on oxide from its B&W toner. She indicated that=3D0Athere is still old stoc=
k =3D
floating around but there is no way to tell old stock=3D0Afrom new=3DE2=3D8=
0=3DA6Th=3D
is is second hand information as I don't make laser decals.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=
=3DA0=3D0A=3D
=3D0AMY DECAL WORKSHOP=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AI skew my workshops to =
using readily =3D
available=3D0Aproducts and processes, trying to make them low-tech and user=
f=3D
riendly so that=3D0Athe student can take the information home and after acq=
ui=3D
ring affordable and=3D0Aaccessible equipment can continue making decals at =
ho=3D
me or studio. A number of years ago there was an article about my=3D0A(deca=
l)=3D
work published in Ceramics TECHNICAL. It can be found online at=3D0ACerami=
cs=3D
Today:=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0Ahttp://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/v=
isgirda-deca=3D
ls.htm=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AFor those of you that like to nit-pick,=
yes photos =3D
8=3D0A& 10 should be interchanged. I have refined the workshop since that e=
ar=3D
ly=3D0Aarticle and continue to make it more foolproof=3DE2=3D80=3DA6=3D0A=
=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D
=3D0ACurrently we are in the process of scheduling a decal=3D0Aworkshop at =
Eye =3D
of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos, TX. Eye of the Dog, it is=3D0Aan amazi=
ng=3D
work in progress run by Billy Ray Mangham and his wife Beverly=3DC2=3DA0=
=3DC2=3DA0=3D
=3D0Ahttp://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AI ha=
ve a Color & L=3D
ine workshop scheduled at=3D0AUniversity of Indianapolis July 26-31=3D0A=3D=
0A=3DC2=3D
=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AAnyone interested in getting info for my workshops,=3D0Asend=
me an e=3D
mail with Workshop Email List as the subject and I will add you to=3D0Amy l=
is=3D
t.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AI have an exhibition currently at the AMACO=
Gallery=3D0Ai=3D
n Indianapolis. I will be present at the closing on Thurs Dec 17, 5-7 pm. I=
=3D
f=3D0Ayou are in the Indianapolis area please stop by and I would be happy =
to=3D
talk to=3D0Ayou.=3D0A=3D0A=3DC2=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A-Rimas=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=
=3D0A
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