How To Make - Coffee Mug with Decal Paper

How To Make Mugs With Decal Paper

Put your Mug on a Mug
By Helen Bradley
Published by Mac Home

Put your “mug” on a mug with inkjet water slide decal paper using your computer and inkjet printer

Somewhere in the Kiosk are of your local mall, you've probably seen people taking photos and attaching them to T-shirts or mugs "while you wait." You probably know that there's a transfer paper that allows you to do this at home on fabric, but how can you do it on porcelain? One up the guys with their fancy, mall technology and make your own mug.

Plan Your Objective
A Photograph of you or your kids makes a great holiday gift for grandparents. For a coworker, teacher, or coach, why not put a photo of the entire team on a mug for a unique and memorable parting present? You might even put your pet's picture on a mug as a thank you gift for their Vet. Let your imagination be your guide.

Find Your Image
Begin by buying the mug you'll use so you can measure the approximate size of the image you'll need to create. Then locate an image. If you have a digital camera, the task is easy as lining up the subjects and taking a range of snaps so you have plenty to choose from. Download these from your camera, and select one to use. If you plan to use a regular photo you'll need to scan it into your computer.

Edit the Image
Open your image in your graphics software. While most photos are rectangular, you may not want to use this shape for your mug. You may also want to cut away (or crop) the unwanted edges of the photo to draw attention to your subject. Use the selection tool in your graphics application of choice to highlight your subject, and use the cropping command to discard the remainder. Or you can select what you want to keep, Copy it, and then Paste it into a new document. You can use the other tools in your software to enhance the colors in the image and to remove or redraw any parts that need fixing up. If you like use the software's text options to add a message to the image. Choose a font and a color that compliment the image, and size the text so it can be easily read. If you're placing the text over the top of the image you may find that adding a drop shadow helps "lift" the text so it can be more easily read.

Size up the Image
Before you can print the image you'll need to resize your masterpiece to fit onto your mug. To do this, you'll need to know at what resolution your printer can print. Check the print dialogue box or your printer's manual for its capability, set your image to this resolution, and resize it so it will print at the required size. Programs like Photoshop have a Resize Wizard to step you through the process. Other programs may function differently - check your program's Help file if you are unsure how to use it. If problems persist, try printing on plain paper to gauge your results. When an image is the correct size, save a copy and you're ready to print the decal.

Print and Assemble your mug
Print a test of the image to ensure it looks appropriate, and the sizing is correct. Then load the Water Slide Decal Paper into the printer to print your image on the glossy side. Choose the white paper for colored mugs, and clear paper for the white ones. Spray the image with the fixative spray following the manufacturer's instructions so the ink won't run. Let the paper dry thoroughly, then cut out the image, and place it in the water until the paper curls and the decal lifts off. Slide the decal onto the mug, blot it lightly, and set it aside to dry. Your mug may not do well in a dishwasher, but with careful hand washing you can drink to your friends for a long time.