Traditional Print

Industry Links

The field of Traditional print is a collection of past industrial processes. Research into reducing solvent use in waterbased screenprinting led to the development of a patented water based ceramic transfer printing system which substantially reduces solvent use.

In 1998, the research team at The Centre For Fine Print Research successfully filed a patent for an on glaze screenprinted ceramic transfer process known as U-Wet using water-based, solvent free (i.e. hydrocarbon free) media which had no smell and has no health risks for the user. The print transfer method retains image clarity even at a small scale.



The mugs in the image above are the result of the 'Get Mugged' project and show examples of U-Wet.

The U - Wet Transfer paper together with a T.W. Graphics water based screen printing ceramic transfer medium is used in this process.The 'U - Wet' Transfer paper together with a T.W. Graphics water based screen printing ceramic transfer medium is used in this process. U-Wet is exclusively available from John Purcell Paper, and designed for use with waterbased screenprinting Inks.

Download a demonstration: how to use U-Wet transfers in 6 easy steps

Patent details:
AUTHORS: S.Hoskins, Held Jointly with R.Anderton and D.Fortune.
PUBLISHER: PCT INTERNATIONAL,
DATE: 2002
PATENT NUMBER: WO 9855327

The patent has created a platform for further research and dissemination through publications, exhibitions and workshops by those involved. The patent was reported by R Anderton, A G W Hodson, S Hoskins, A M Logan and K Petrie in Routes to Pollution Minimisation in Ceramic Transfer Industry, synergy of art and science in British Ceramic Transactions, Vol 97, no 3,1998. pp.189-90, ISSN 0307 7357.

Further dissemination has included one work in the Smash and Grab exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum London, 1997. Catalogue: ISBN 1-86043-115.

Demonstrations, including Ink Different: Waterbased Ceramic Transfer printing (with Stephen Hoskins) at the Southern Graphics Conference 2000 at the University of Miami, Florida, USA. 1-5 March 2000.

Curation of an exhibition: Print on ceramics, 45 artist’s mugs, documenting a collaborative project involving 45 invited contemporary artists from UK, USA and Holland. Each artist submitted a design, which was printed by the Centre for Fine Print Research, using the patented system applied to a bone china base.

Training new researchers in this subject has led to two PhD completions: Kevin Petrie Water-based ceramic transfer printing (1999) and Alison Logan (2000). The latter PhD completion, by Alison Logan, was a parallel supervision with the Faculty of Applied Science at UWE. Further dissemination included exhibitions at Manhattan Graphics Centre, New York, (3 -30 March 2001); Fusion Gallery OXO Tower, London, (June 2001); and AKI Enschede, Holland, (October 2001).



Download a demonstration: how to use U-Wet transfers in 6 easy steps

The team also have links with the following companies:

AJ Wells
Awagami Factory / Fuji Paper Mills Cooperative
Caligo Inks
Educational Art & Craft Supplies
Graphic Chemical & Ink Company
Halepress / Albatross Editions
Hiromi Paper
Intaglio Printmaker
John Purcell Paper
Harry F Rochat Ltd
TN Lawrence