| Screen-printing is an ancient method of printing | | | | the United States in Circa 1865. Then this process |
| invented in China during the Song Dynasty | | | | popularized in the United States, during the ceramic |
| (960–1279 AD). This method of printing called | | | | decorating craze of the mid-1870s. In the United |
| silk-screening, because the mesh used to press the | | | | States, the word decalcomania abbreviated to the |
| ink through was made of silk. Silk-screen printing | | | | version we use today decal. |
| invented in China used primarily to print on cloth, such | | | | |
| as silk, cotton, and other fabrics. | | | | Simon Ravenet had inadvertently invented water-slide |
| | | | | off decals except it would be many decades before |
| | | | | this new printing system would be use to print decals |
| Then approximately 1750 Simon Francois Ravenet | | | | for promotions and product branding. Simon |
| who emigrated from France to England, before | | | | Francois Ravenet transfer system is different from |
| Simon immigrated he had been seeking a way to | | | | the water-slide off decals we use today. The |
| decorate ceramic designs using screen-printing. In | | | | difference is in the types of inks Simon’s system |
| England, Simon perfected a process of transferring | | | | employed were ceramic inks. |
| artistic images to decorate ceramic pieces. | | | | |
| | | | | Ceramic inks are employed to produce ceramic |
| | | | | water-transfer decals. The ceramic inks are |
| Simon Ravenet augmented screen-print as a direct | | | | manufactured by milling the ceramic particles into the |
| printing method and created a non-direct form of | | | | ink. The ceramic particle during the milling process |
| printing using a new transfer system. This new | | | | becomes infused with the ink. This ink is no longer |
| transfer system used a medium constructed from a | | | | common ink it is now ceramic ink. |
| paper that was water-resistant that had previously | | | | |
| been printed with a water-soluble adhesive. | | | | When the ceramic transfer decal is applied to the |
| | | | | ceramic piece then the ceramic piece is fired in a kiln |
| Simon Ravenet printed the artistic design onto the | | | | the decal transfer becomes a part of the ceramic. |
| water-resistant paper on top of the water-soluble | | | | Before this new transfer invention all pottery, |
| adhesive and printed a clear ink over the design. The | | | | earthenware, ceramic, and glass were decorated by |
| finished decalcomania then is immersed in water, the | | | | hand painting a ceramic paint directly on the piece. |
| adhesive releases from the water-resistant paper | | | | The same process used to cause the ceramic |
| leaving a decalcomania sandwiched between the | | | | particles infused in the paint, so when the pottery |
| water-soluble adhesive and the final clear coat of ink | | | | placed in a kiln to fired the pottery the paint or ink |
| on the surface of the decalcomanias printed | | | | literally became one with the pottery. |
| image. Applying the decalcomania to the surface | | | | |
| of the ceramic piece, he wanted to decorate; the | | | | The question; is this style of printing used today? |
| adhesive would allow it to adhere to the surface of | | | | Yes, fine china, every day dinnerware, mugs, drinking |
| the ceramic. | | | | glasses, as well as industrial products employ ceramic |
| | | | | decals. The industrial uses such as; laboratory test |
| Simon Ravenet called this new transfer system a | | | | tubes, toilet and lavatory fixtures are decorated this |
| decalcomania. This new technology imported to | | | | way, too. |