vinyl onto mugs (?)

[Matt Quinn]

They are screen printed then cooked in an oven or conveyer drier.

...Or possibly the logo is applied as a transfer made using vitrifiable ink and the item fired. Either way; not really a small-scale process. Though if you have a kiln for firing it's possible to get transfers made in relatively small runs.

[John G]

transfer made using vitrifiable ink

Lost me there Matt, never heard of vitrifiable ink - off to Google :biggrin:

[John G]

Or possibly the logo is applied as a transfer made using vitrifiable ink

Just googled it - the decals you mentioned above, using vitrifiable inks, are still screen printed. which is what I said originally.

[Matt Quinn]

Just googled it - the decals you mentioned above, using vitrifiable inks, are still screen printed. which is what I said originally.

They are indeed traditionally... However digital version also exist...

http://www.ceramicdigital.co.uk/

http://www.fotoceramic.com/

- Not the best examples; but what springs immediately to mind.

Some of these guys do CMYK on a white 'outline' background to allow them to be put onto dark items... You might find some of the longer-run commercial stuff is done this way.

Either way the biggest drawback for the small scale producer is the stuff actually needs firing; not just baking. Fine if you're actually originating the ceramics though or buying in slipware.

[AdamB]

Either way the biggest drawback for the small scale producer is the stuff actually needs firing; not just baking. Fine if you're actually originating the ceramics though or buying in slipware.

So, in a normal conventional over won't be good enough then Matt? I only ask as I was looking at something similar a few months ago (inkjet printable stuff) that once on you placed in the oven to make them dishwasher proof.

[John G]

I think the firing takes it way beyond the temp of a normal oven and the ink melts then hardens again when cooling giving it a ceramic or raised effect

[Matt Quinn]

So, in a normal conventional over won't be good enough then Matt? I only ask as I was looking at something similar a few months ago (inkjet printable stuff) that once on you placed in the oven to make them dishwasher proof.

No sadly... These are basically glaze transfers in effect. In screen printed form (as cited by John) the process is as old as the hills. Digital versions are newer; but still designed for firing in basically professional ceramics set-ups...

Main advantage is that the products can be overglazed which makes the end product more of a known long-term quantity.... I'd need to pick my Partner's brains as she has some experience of this sort of thing having taught ceramics at one time.

[John G]

Hi Matt, do you think the majority of the mugs on sale in the shops (large runs - not one offs) are printed this way? I knew a lot were screen printed but for some reason I thought they where printed direct on some sort of rotary machine.

[Matt Quinn]

Very possible John...

Again; it's not really my area of expertise - But I've filmed corporate videos in ceramics factories and transfers were definitely what they were using. The process can be heavily automated.

It surprised me to learn that this sort of technique went back to the 1700s!

Ink jet technology is used in some amazing ways... There are such things as 3d printers that literally 'print' real plastic objects; you could 'print' an airfix kit for instance! - Elsewhere you'll find some wacky footage of boffins using the skeleton of what is very obviously an epson printer to 'print' a human bladder! - I kid you not!

- A machine built to 'direct spray' vitrifiable ink onto mugs? Never seen or heard of one but yes; I'd imagine something like that must exist; it's just another form of industrial robot surely... Fit one with some computer-controlled airbrushes and you'd be away I reckon.

[AdamB]

No sadly... These are basically glaze transfers in effect. In screen printed form (as cited by John) the process is as old as the hills. Digital versions are newer; but still designed for firing in basically professional ceramics set-ups...

Main advantage is that the products can be overglazed which makes the end product more of a known long-term quantity.... I'd need to pick my Partner's brains as she has some experience of this sort of thing having taught ceramics at one time.

Shame - thanks for the replay matt