DIY Decals - You found it! Yay! ***We love water-slide transfers ***
So many ways to create and use your own custom designs!
Do check out the helpful links at the
bottom of the page. Please share any thing related to
decals; we'll post it asap.
*This paper is not for inkjet printers, please note. Silkscreen, doodle, or laserprint? Yes.
Try our ready - to - print screens with your own designs, or :~) (gallery up soon!) with ours.
Laser print transfers! a sweet way to work with fired decals on ceramics or glass ~
Laser printer toner contains enough iron oxide to create a beautiful range of sepia to chocolate, depending on the amount of ink laid into the original.(Unlike Lazer-Tran paper, this is safer for printers...though your local copy center may not take your word for it. DIY/dl first time...)
Cone 04 works well with the laser decals on most glazes. Anecdotal word says it fired out completely at cone 6, so recommend doing it as a final/3rd fire. Please share your own thoughts on this!
Tiny Tip*For imaging warm glass, cover the transferred image with clear glass flux & fire as usual.
transfers to greenware in any state and to a limited extent, bisque. This is mostly text and includes a basic recipe for turning oxides into a screenable glaze
HOW TO BASICS: Short Version One: 1. Image the decal paper on a laser/commercial printer, or screen print with the medium of your choice.
Allow it to dry well - four hours to overnight. (You can try toasting it to speed things up but I don't recommend that. Consider it another opportunity for practicing patience. Or forethought." she reminds herself.)
2. Apply covercoat. Some like to screen print the covercoat, as is done commercially. This gives the image more protection from smearing however, the screen will be really hard to clean afterward. We like to give it a clear aerosol spray sealing, then squeegee the whole page. If you are experienced, you can do this evenly in one pass. Otherwise do it twice, allowing each coat to dry. First pass: top to bottom. Second pass: side to side. It will be wet, then sticky, then tacky, so allow it to dry in a covered area free from airborne particles.
3. Prepare the surface to be imaged. It must be smooth, clean and dry.
4. Cut out the image. Soak it briefly in clean warm water, about 35-45 seconds. When the thin decal film begins to slip along backing, s l i d e one edge slightly off edge.
5. Lay the backing paper in position on your item. Holding the offset clear decal edge in position, gently slide the backing paper out from under the opposite edge. onto any smooth clean surface. SURFACE must be clean and smooth for optimal contact and adhesion. Glass, ceramic, wood; furniture, walls, stationery. Images will show up best on a light background. Mercator the edges to fit curves.
HOW TO BASICS, Short Version Two
Step #1: Design your decals using any graphic software program to print out on 8 1/2 " x 11" sheet. You may cut sheet into half if desired. Set your printer preferences:
Resolution = Best
Paper = Photo Gloss
(Print your decal on the glossy side of INK JET Decal Paper.)
Step #2: Spray your printed sheet evenly with Clear High Gloss spray like Krylon until the sheet has a glossy finish. Follow directions on can to apply 3 even coats. Dry between each coat. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to dry and set (* available at any craft or hardware store such as Loews, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Walmart, etc. as well as auto parts stores. Any acrylic clear coat spray will work.)
Step #3 - 5: As above: Cut out your image, soak and apply to clean dry surface.
DIY Decal Making
Helpful links: