Decal technology: self-service decoration of services (24 photos)

Decal is the application of various images to ceramic, glass and porcelain. Decal technology is widely used in the promotional industry. Most often, logos and advertisements are applied on glasses, plates, cups and other utensils.

Decal technology almost completely replaced the complex process of hand-drawing on dishes. Using this method, realistic drawings are produced with a clear drawing.

The decal on the circles in the form of a logo can be an excellent marketing move of the company. A perfect gift for partners can be mugs with a logo using the decal technique. Impressions of the company's success are enhanced in the restaurant, which features plates with an unobtrusive inscription.

Hot decal

Hot decal differs in that the organic substances contained in the paint burn out during firing, mineral pigments remain on the dishes, forming a durable image. Drawings applied in this way are stored for a long time, almost not amenable to mechanical stress.

Technology

At the beginning of the process, special stencils are made for each color. After that, the necessary paints are pressed onto the gummed paper material and dried. After applying the necessary colors, the drawing is coated with colorless varnish and dries for almost a day. After drying, the paper gets wet in water, tightly pressed to the dishes and separated from the "picture". Separate very carefully so that no bubbles or bumps appear that ruin the application. Then the finished product is dried and fired in muffle furnaces. Decal application - the technology is complex, long and laborious.

Hot Decal Benefits

The type of application with a decal is not cheap, but it has many advantages:

• Persistent image. When the products are fired, the paint is poured into the top layer of the dishes, which makes the application resistant. The disadvantage is that products with a decal cannot be washed in a dishwasher or used to wash detergents with an abrasive.
• The ability to use visual special effects. There are few colors in the ceramic palette, high temperatures during firing even more limit the saturation, so some deviation from the color is possible. Since ceramic paints do not have saturation, the application is performed twice or a substrate is used. Decoloring allows the use of visual techniques. For example, gold is applied to glossy products; matte surfaces can be coated with a flux that makes the picture glossy.
• Large image area. Smooth or cylinder-shaped surfaces can be covered almost completely with the image. If the dishes have a curvature, additional processing is required.

It is not allowed to apply the image inside glasses or mugs or on the very edge of the product, since there are paints containing oxide, therefore, they should not touch food or lips.

Cold decal

Thanks to the latest technology, the spread of image printing not only on dishes. There was a possibility of decoloring on mobile phones, flash drives, plastic products and even on nails. The cold decal just copes with this task.

Technology

A sliding or cold decal is carried out first as well as a classic hot decal.The paper with the picture gets wet in water, the image also peels off and is placed on the subject, it is dried and a UV varnish or spray is applied to it, fixing it. It is very important that there is no water under the picture. In this case, with proper care of the dishes, the image stability will be long.

Cold decal is used when printing drawings on surfaces that do not withstand high temperatures. Pictures are fixed on objects using low temperature organic paints, which have high abrasion resistance. Using this method, for example, mugs are produced with changing color when heated. Of course, a hot decal is superior in stability to a cold one, but the cost of the second type of finish is much lower than that made by a hot method.

Drawing an original colorful image in the form of logos is a great advertisement for any company. You can use a decal on glass and a decal on porcelain for branding various items. Private persons also order full-color images on plates, mugs, wineglasses, glasses, ashtrays and other items to make an unusual original gift for loved ones.