Transferware
Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a ceramic plate or cup with a design on it that looks kind of like a drawing or painting? That's called transferware! It's a special way to put designs on plates and cups.
First, an artist draws the design they want on a piece of paper. Then, they use a special machine called a printing press to print that design onto a thin, semi-transparent paper.
Next, the ceramic piece (like a plate or cup) is coated in a special kind of ink. Then, the paper with the design on it is pressed onto the ink-coated ceramic piece.
The ink from the paper sticks to the ceramic, creating the design on the plate or cup.
Finally, the ceramic piece gets heated in a special oven called a kiln. The heat makes the ink and the ceramic melt together, so the design stays on the piece forever!
But transferware isn't just about putting any old design on a plate. They often have fancy designs on them - like pretty flowers or animals. And it's been around for a long time - people have been using transferware to decorate porcelain since the 18th century!
First, an artist draws the design they want on a piece of paper. Then, they use a special machine called a printing press to print that design onto a thin, semi-transparent paper.
Next, the ceramic piece (like a plate or cup) is coated in a special kind of ink. Then, the paper with the design on it is pressed onto the ink-coated ceramic piece.
The ink from the paper sticks to the ceramic, creating the design on the plate or cup.
Finally, the ceramic piece gets heated in a special oven called a kiln. The heat makes the ink and the ceramic melt together, so the design stays on the piece forever!
But transferware isn't just about putting any old design on a plate. They often have fancy designs on them - like pretty flowers or animals. And it's been around for a long time - people have been using transferware to decorate porcelain since the 18th century!