Underglaze Ceramic Water Slide Decals

Underglaze ceramic water slide decals are transfers applied to the unglazed bisque body and fired at 1,250-1,400°C beneath the glaze layer, producing the most durable ceramic decoration available. Because the design sits under the glaze rather than on it, the decoration cannot be scratched, worn or washed away - it is protected by the full thickness of the glaze itself.

Why Choose Underglaze?

Underglaze is the standard specification for commercial and heavy-use tableware. Hotel dinnerware, restaurant plates, airline serviceware and institutional ceramics all go through industrial dishwashers, stacking abrasion and daily cutlery contact that would degrade lesser decoration methods within months. Underglaze decoration survives this for the life of the ware.

It is also the preferred method for porcelain and bone china, where the high firing temperature matches the body chemistry and produces a decoration that reads as integral to the piece rather than applied to it.

Underglaze vs Overglaze

If the ware goes into a commercial kitchen, choose underglaze. If you need bright colours or metallics for domestic-use giftware, overglaze gives more design freedom.

Colour and Design Considerations

High firing temperatures limit the pigment palette: bright reds, oranges and certain yellows burn out above 1,200°C. Underglaze designs work best in blues, greens, browns, blacks and muted earth tones - which is why classic blue-and-white porcelain uses this method. We will confirm which of your colours are achievable at your firing temperature before sampling.

Food Safety and Compliance

Because the decoration sits beneath the glaze, underglaze is inherently the safest option for food-contact surfaces - the food never touches the pigment layer. We supply systems compliant with FDA ceramic ware requirements, EU 84/500/EEC, ISO 6486 and LFGB.

How to Order

1. Send artwork, ware body type (porcelain, stoneware, bone china), firing temperature and quantity.
2. We confirm achievable colours at your temperature and quote.
3. You fire and approve a sample sheet on your own body and glaze.
4. Production, protective packing and worldwide shipping with export documentation.

Send your tableware project to sales@decalsspecialist.com for a quote, or compare with our overglaze dinnerware decals and ceramic mug decals.