I am a new member and am greatly enjoying the archive of transfer designs, as well as the other resources, on this website. I'm currently researching how to produce my own editions of decorative plates very much in the transferware style and wonder if anyone in this community might be able to assist.
Of particular interest is wether to rely on decals for my transfers (are they good enough?), or if it is possible to use an engraving/paper approach similar to the original method. There are so many ways to produce china with imagery applied of varying quality- I am looking to create an authentic, high quality item that retains some of the color and resolution of the antique pieces sought after by members here.
Charles, You may be interested in learning more about the upcoming symposium at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Beyond Blue A one day symposium at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London On Thursday 23 January 2014
This symposium brings together leading academic researchers, industry experts and artists to discuss underglaze ceramic printing.
If you can't make the symposium, I encourage you to check out the work that Professor Stephen Hoskins and David Huson have done. They have received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for a project in collaboration with Burleigh Pottery, ‘Combining Digital Print Technologies with 18th century Under-glaze Ceramic Printing to retain an Industrial Heritage Process’. They have undertaken research on traditional copperplate engraving techniques combined with flexographic plate printing to create new methods of digitally engraved rollers. Here is the Center for Fine Print Research URL that could provide you with more information on this subject: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/research/cfpr/research/traditionalprint/research%20projects/Combiningunderglazeburleigh.html
And here is Professor Hoskins contact information:
Professor Stephen Hoskins Hewlett Packard Chair of Fine Print Director: Centre for Fine Print Research University of the West of England, Bristol Tel: 0117 328 4976
Loren- Thank you so much for this very helpful information and sorry to not reply sooner! I eventually signed up for the event but my flight from New York City was just cancelled due to the snowstorm here. Apparently there will be a video posted, hopefully this will be informative.
I am still looking at producing contemporary plates true to the transferware aesthetic- I wonder if Professor Hoskins is an acquaintance of yours? I will attempt to reach him to see if he has a moment to offer suggestions on creating suitable imagery for my project.