DECAL LAYERING

DECAL LAYERING is the new soft-look in decal decoration! By using delicate pastel floral decals and any of our varied CERAM-A-GRAFIC verse decals, this technique gives any plain project a beautiful greeting card look. Because it combines quick /n easy glazing with a basic decal method, DECAL LAYERING produces professional results with a minimal investment of time. Yet it is very creative in concept.

Enhanced with meaningful thoughts and messages, projects finished in this technique capture the look of fine ceramic items found only in exclusive boutiques . . . and they carry very special personal expression from the creator to the receiver.

To do DECAL LAYERING, select any smooth greenware shape. Decorate any detail or trim areas using translucent and/or opaque underglazes. Bisque fire to the maturity of the clay. Apply the necessary coats of clear glaze (gloss or satin), or use any one of the new pastel glazes. Glaze fir according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Select any pastel floral decal, and choose from any of our assorted CERAM-A-GRAFIC verses, expressing your feelings of the moment. Remember, any of the CERAM-A-GRAFIC messages can be cut apart and restructured to best fit your individual needs. You can also create your own personal messages using CERAM-A-GRAFIC lettering.

The floral decal and the verse decal are usually positioned to overlap each other. This is what creates the soft, tender look. Decal application will then be in two different layers. Whether or not the project is fired between the two decal layers is optional. Results have been good with the single-fire method on medium and small projects.

With one-fire DECAL LAYERING, the first layer should always be the message, since that is the most important layer. Then, if there is any slight firing flaw in the floral layer, it will be insignificant. The secret to success with one-fire DECAL LAYERING is to remove any excess clear background coating from around the message. Do this before moistening the decal by trimming as closely as possible to the lettering area. During application, make certain that the message (first layer) is well adhered and thoroughly dry before applying the floral (second layer). Firing should be cone 015-016 range.

If you own a kiln, and/or if the area being decorated is large, you may wish to fire between the two decal layers. In two-fire DECAL LAYERING, the first layer should be the floral. With hobby glazes, firing for the first layer can be at any temperature between 020 and 016, as this is not the final firing. The message layer is then applied over the floral area and fired again to a cone, 015-016 range. In both methods, firing should not be too rapid, allowing 30 to 45 minutes between heat increases. This will provide for proper burn-out. The kiln should be well-vented until burn-out is completed. This is not necessarily as soon as all switches are on high. With many kilns, complete burn-out could be 10 to 15 minutes, or more, after switching to high! After burn-out, kilns should be closed tightly for completion of firing.