Milestone Decal Art
Enamel Decal Basics
Silkscreen or Digital. Learn more about the range decal options Milestone offers enamel artists.
How Enamel Decals are Made
Waterslide decals are made by printing images on special paper coated in a water-soluble glue. The images are then completely covered with a coating that binds to the print.
When the decal is wet, the image is released from the paper with the covercoat, applied to an already glazed surface and fired in a ceramic kiln.
Once fired the inorganic covercoat burns off and the organic mineral-based colors become permanently fused to the glaze.
Detailed firing instructions can be found in the FIRING INFO menu.
Silkscreen vs. Digital Decals for Enamel
Milestone Decal Art offers a variety of decal printing options to suit your needs. Both silkscreen and digital decal printing processes result in a waterslide decal transfer. Each enamel decal printing method offers distinct advantages.
About Silkscreen Decals
Silkscreen decals are printed using a centuries-old technique in which liquid toners are pressed through a screen to provide a dense, opaque color print. This decal printing process is commonly used in commercial glass products.
Each color in a silkscreen print requires the creation of an individual screen. The resulting print is crisp with sharply defined areas of color and little to no color gradient.
Milestone Decal Art offers three different silkscreen enamel decal types based on firing temperature - Firing ~1050°F/ 565°C, Firing ~1150°F/ 620°C, Firing ~1400°F/ 760°C.
Low Temperature Glow in the Dark Decals
Milestone Decal Art exclusive phosphorescent decals are fired at ~1050°F/ 565°C.
Like traditional glow-in-the-dark items, the decals need to be exposed to light for them to glow. They come in various daytime colors and emit the classic green glow when the lights are out. They look great in UV blacklight as well!
The decals are not food-safe and should be hand-washed for durability.
Mid-Temperature Decals
Milestone Decal Art mid-temperature enamel decals are fired to ~1150°F/ 620°C.
They are available variety of colors including 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
These mid-temperature enamel decals can be safely fired without melting or deforming a vitrified frit. They are not dishwasher safe.
High Temperature Decals
Milestone Decal Art high temperature enamel decals are fired to ~1400°F/ 760°C.
High temperature enamel decals come in a wide variety of colors including 23K gold, platinum and copper luster.
Non-metallic colors are dishwasher safe and precious metal colors are top-rack dishwasher resistant only.
We know our customers value transparency; as do we. So we make the extra commitment to ensure that our precious metal toners are supplied by companies who commit to the conflict-free pledge.
Digital decals are printed with a relatively modern technique using powdered mineral toners. The nature of the powdered toner, gives digital prints a textured feel after firing.
Digital decals are fired to fusing temperature 1470°F/ 800°C. They semi-transparent and work best on white or light colored frit.
Colorful Illustrations
Milestone Decal Art uses state of the art laser printers to render high-quality prints. In contrast with the blockiness of the silkscreen print, the digital decal print captures subtle color gradients.
The color of a digital decal is less dense than a silkscreen decal. For best results should be used on white or light colored glass.
Photographic Prints
Digital decals are great for finely detailed photographic prints.
