8. Printed decorations

Roughly 100 years ago a new technique was developed that made multi coloured decoration less costly. A lithograph of the decoration was printed in as many colors as desired on paper covered with a thin, water-soluble film. To complete the picture, a thin layer of varnish was applied over the sheet of paper with the pictures.

The design selected for use was cut out of the sheet and placed in water, whereupon the water-soluble film would dissolve, detaching the design from the paper so that it could glide over onto the porcelain object. With the help of a small rubber spatula, all the air or water trapped between the picture and the porcelain would be smoothed away. When it was dry, the item was passed through a kiln and heated to about 800°C to fix the decoration. Several names have been given to this technique, including transfers, prints, and decals.

It is very widely used today at all porcelain factories, although in more efficient processes. The lithographic print is often replaced by screen-printing, while the film of varnish is replaced by thin plastic foil, and where the form of the porcelain item allows it, the patterns are transferred by machines. Rationally designed workstations, conveyor belts and new types of kilns all help to reduce the costs of the decoration process.

At Royal Copenhagen the printed overglaze decorations are used on items like Magnolia Blue or Grey , Musica and White Plain Signature.