Decal Printing: Logo Printing on Corporate Mugs, Glasses and Porcelain

How is decal printing done?

The process moves in four steps, and each step determines the next.

1. Preparing the design. The logo and visuals are scaled as vectors to the print area. Colours are converted to their ceramic-paint equivalents; the colour you see on screen and the colour that comes out of the kiln are not defined by the same system.
2. Printing the decal. The design is printed onto decal paper with ceramic paints, and a protective film is applied on top.
3. Transfer to the product. The decal is softened in water, released from the carrier and positioned on the product surface by hand. The mug handle, the slope of the glass and the product shape directly affect this step.
4. Firing. The protective film burns away and the ceramic paint bonds with the glaze. The print that comes out of the kiln is now part of the surface.

On porcelain and ceramic products Sundekor applies on-glaze decals: the decal is placed on top of the product's glazed surface, and during firing the paint bonds with that glaze.

Which products is it used on?

Decal printing is applied to glazed surfaces that can be fired. Three product groups in the Sundekor catalogue are suitable for this method:

• Porcelain mugs and porcelain cups — the most common corporate use; the area around the handle and near the base stays outside the print area, and the small surface of a cup can carry fine detail.
• Ceramic mugs — with matte and coloured glaze options, in promotional and café sets.
• Glass products — because transparent glass has no background colour, the product itself shows behind the design; the logo colour and position are planned separately for glass.

Decals are not applied to plastic or coated surfaces that cannot be heated; other methods are considered for these products.

Decal, sublimation and screen printing: which one when?

For a short-lived event product, sublimation may be enough. On a mug where the corporate identity will be visible for a long time, wash resistance is decisive; that is why decal is preferred for corporate gifts and café/restaurant sets.

Why decal for corporate projects?

With corporate gifts and business products, the expectation is that the product keeps its first-day look for a long time. In decal printing the paint bonds with the glaze during firing, so the print withstands daily use and washing; durability depends on the print area, the ceramic paint and the firing conditions. In set production the same decal is applied to every product, so the pieces carry the same design.

Cafés, restaurants and corporate gifts: production in sets

In cafés and restaurants, the mug and glass that reach the table are expected to carry the same logo in the same shade. In decal printing the same decal is applied to every piece, so the unity of the set is preserved. With corporate gifts, the product stays on the desk for a long time and is washed often; fired decal printing withstands this use. In event, trade-fair and new-year projects, as quantities grow the design approval and colour decision are made once, and production continues with the same decal.

Three things to settle before ordering

• The logo should be a vector file. A logo taken from a screenshot loses edge sharpness when enlarged to print size; it cannot be corrected once it has been applied to the surface.
• Colour expectations should be discussed from the start. The ceramic-paint equivalent of your corporate colour is determined before printing; surprises are resolved before the kiln.
• The print area changes with the product. The same logo that sits comfortably on a mug may become narrow on a slim glass; product choice and design are planned together.

If you do not have a vector file, send your current logo; we can prepare the vector artwork before printing.

The corporate decal printing process at Sundekor

1. Quote: the product group, estimated quantity, logo file and print colour are shared. The minimum order quantity is 100.
2. Design approval: the logo is placed according to the print area, colour equivalents are finalised and presented for your approval.
3. Production: the decal is printed, applied to the products and fired.

Decal printing and drying area in our workshop.

Get a quote for decal printingRequest a quote on WhatsApp

Turnkey printed mug and glass orders are completed within 15 days at most; decal printing jobs are ready within 2 days at most once work begins.

Frequently asked questions

What is decal printing?

Decal printing means printing a logo or design with ceramic paints onto a special carrier paper, then transferring it onto the product surface and firing it. Because the paint bonds with the glaze during firing, the print becomes part of the surface; it does not stick like a label.

Does mug decal printing come off in the wash?

In fired decal printing the paint bonds with the glaze, so the print withstands daily use and washing. Durability depends on the print area, the ceramic paint used and the firing conditions.

Which products can be decal printed?

Glazed surfaces that can be fired: porcelain mugs and porcelain cups, ceramic mugs and glasses. Decals are not applied to plastic or coated surfaces that cannot be heated.

How many colours can it have, and will my corporate colour match?

The decal method carries multi-colour designs and gradients in one go. The ceramic paint palette does not match screen colours exactly; the equivalent of your corporate colour is determined before printing.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

Yes. Sundekor produces for corporate customers; the minimum order quantity is 100.

How is the price determined?

The table on this page shows guide total prices for two-colour decal printing on the smallest decal sheet (excl. VAT); larger sheets cost more, and the unit price falls as quantity rises. For printed mugs: For a 100-piece order, the guide price per mug is 114 TL + VAT for ceramic and 228 TL + VAT for porcelain; it falls as quantity rises and varies with the number of colours, gilding, decal sheet size and model. For an exact price, message us on WhatsApp or call us. The website has no online sales or basket; orders are placed by quote, and guide prices are in the price tables.