Digital ceramic transfers

Your artwork, printed as ceramic transfers

Upload your A3 artwork and we'll digitally print it onto a ceramic transfer sheet, covercoat it and post it to you, ready to apply and fire.

£14.40per A3 sheet, plus postage

Order transfer sheets → What can it print?
  • Upload and pay online
  • Covercoated, ready to apply
  • Dispatched within 5 working days
Digital ceramic transfer sheet printed with a blue floral pattern
How it works

From your file to your kiln in four steps

  1. Prepare your artwork

    Lay out your design at A3 (29.7 × 42 cm), 300 dpi, keeping everything inside 28 × 40 cm. Fill the sheet: it costs the same either way.

  2. Upload and pay

    Upload your file on the order page, or paste a WeTransfer link for large files. Tick to confirm, then check out as normal.

  3. We print and covercoat

    We give your file a quick check, print it in our Stoke-on-Trent print room and covercoat it.

  4. Apply and fire

    Your sheets arrive covercoated and ready to apply. Fire at around 830°C on glazed ware.

Why order from us

Simple ordering from ceramic decorators

Order in minutes

Upload your file and pay in one go. No quotes, no invoices and no separate emails to match up.

Your file stays with your order

Your artwork is attached to your order the moment you check out, so nothing gets lost in an inbox.

Decorators, not just printers

We've been decorating ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent since 1977. Printing and firing transfers is our everyday work.

Honest about colour

We tell you up front what CMYK digital printing can and can't do, before you spend a penny.

Clear firing guidance

Every sheet comes covercoated, with a firing temperature to work to, so you're not guessing.

Want it done for you?

We can apply and fire your design onto our own whiteware too. Ask for a quote.

What digital printing can't do

  • CMYK only. There's no red ink, so bright reds, oranges and strong pinks fire duller and more brownish than on screen.
  • No white ink. White areas are left clear, so the ware shows through.
  • No gold, silver or metallics.
  • Colours change when fired. Expect a difference from your screen or home printer.

Need a true red, white or gold? Ask about screen printing.

The details

  • Sheet: A3 (29.7 × 42 cm), print area 28 × 40 cm
  • Artwork: 300 dpi or higher, CMYK preferred
  • Files: PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF or PSD
  • One layout per sheet, printed as supplied
  • Covercoated and ready to apply
  • Firing: around 830°C, glazed ware only (bone china, porcelain or earthenware)
  • Dispatched within 5 working days
Is digital right for you?

Good for small runs, not for exact colour

Digital is a good fit for

  • One-offs, trial runs and small quantities. There's no minimum order.
  • Keeping costs down. With a low set-up cost, it's usually cheaper than silkscreen below roughly 100 transfers.
  • Getting going quickly, with sheets dispatched within 5 working days.
  • Testing a design before committing to a larger silkscreen run.

Consider silkscreen instead if

  • Your design relies on rich, solid colour. Reds, dark blues and large solid blocks lose richness with only four inks.
  • Repeat orders must match exactly. A slight ink variation can shift the shade from one print run to the next.
  • You need white, gold, silver or metallics.
  • You need 100 or more transfers of one design. Compare printing methods.
Applying your transfers

Decorating with your sheets

Prefer us to do it? Our lithographers can apply and fire your design for you. Ask for a quote.

  1. Warm the ware

    Warm your ware to 20–30°C before you start.

  2. Soak

    Cut around your images and immerse them in water for 30–40 seconds.

  3. Slide

    Slide the transfer from the backing paper.

  4. Apply

    Apply the transfer to your ware.

  5. Smooth

    Make sure there are no air bubbles or creases.

  6. Dry and fire

    Let it dry fully, then fire at around 830°C.

FAQ

Questions we get asked

What size are the sheets?

All digital sheets are A3 (29.7 × 42 cm). Keep your design inside 28 × 40 cm, as the outer edge (about 1 cm each side) isn't printed.

How much does it cost?

£12 per A3 sheet, plus postage. It's the same price however much of the sheet you fill, so it's worth filling it.

Can you put several designs on one sheet for me?

Our online ordering prints your A3 layout exactly as supplied. If you'd like us to arrange several designs on one sheet, email sales@finsburychina.co.uk before ordering.

My file is too big to upload. What do I do?

Upload it to WeTransfer (free, no account needed), then paste the download link into the box on the order page instead. Dropbox and Google Drive links work too.

Can you print red, white or gold?

Not digitally. We print in CMYK only, so there's no red, white or metallic ink, and bright reds, oranges and strong pinks fire duller and more brownish. For a true red, white or gold, ask us about screen printing.

What file types and resolution do you need?

PDF, PNG, JPEG, TIFF or PSD, at 300 dpi or higher. Supplying your artwork in CMYK gives you the best idea of how colours will come out.

What temperature should I fire at?

Around 830°C. The transfers are for glazed ware only: bone china, porcelain or earthenware.

Do the sheets come covercoated?

Yes. Every sheet is covercoated and ready to apply when it arrives.

How long will my order take?

Orders are dispatched within 5 working days. We give every file a quick check first, and if something can't be printed we'll get in touch.

Can you apply and fire the design for me?

Yes. We can decorate and fire your design onto our own whiteware. Ask for a bespoke quote and we'll send a free mockup.

Ready to print?

Upload your A3 artwork and check out in a few minutes. Your sheets will be dispatched within 5 working days.

Order transfer sheets →