Getting Started with Ceramic Glazing: Tips and Supplies
Ceramic glaze, underglaze, Designer Liner, and overglaze all add color or decoration to ceramics, but they are used at different stages. Choosing the right product depends on whether you are working with wet clay, greenware, bisque, or a piece that has already been glazed and fired.
This guide explains the differences and helps you choose the right Mayco or Colorobbia product for your project.
Quick Guide to Ceramic Finishes
- Stroke & Coat glaze: Use for colorful translucent or opaque coverage on clay or ceramic bisque.
- Underglaze: Use for painting, layering, patterns, and detailed color on clay, greenware, or bisque.
- Designer Liner: Use for controlled lines, dots, lettering, and illustrations.
- Clear glaze: Use over compatible underglaze or detail work to create a glossy fired surface.
- Overglaze: Use after the regular glaze firing to add gold, platinum, copper, or Mother of Pearl.
Always follow the instructions for the exact product you are using. Application and firing requirements can vary between product lines.
Understanding Clay, Greenware, Bisque and Glazed Ware
Clay and Greenware
Greenware is shaped clay that has dried but has not received its first kiln firing. Some underglazes and Stroke & Coat colors can be applied at this stage when permitted by the product instructions.
Ceramic Bisque
Bisque has been fired once and remains porous. It is ready to accept ceramic glaze, underglaze, Designer Liner, clear glaze, or acrylic paint depending on the project.
Glazed Ware
Glazed ware has received a glaze coating and another kiln firing. Colorobbia gold, platinum, copper, and Mother of Pearl overglazes are applied after this stage and require an additional decorative firing.
Mayco Stroke & Coat Glaze
Mayco Stroke & Coat is a versatile ceramic glaze that can be applied to clay or ceramic bisque. It is ready to use from the bottle and does not normally require thinning.
One coat can produce a more translucent appearance, while additional coats create richer and more opaque coverage. The exact result depends on the color, surface, application, and firing.
Stroke & Coat colors can also be used for brushwork, patterns, layered designs, and colorful group projects. Follow the product label for the appropriate number of coats and firing schedule.
Our Mayco selection includes sets such as:
Product availability can change, so visit our Mayco collection to see the current selection.
Mayco Ceramic Underglaze
Underglaze is a good choice when you want controlled color, painted designs, shading, lettering, or detailed artwork. Depending on the product, it can be applied to wet clay, greenware, or bisque.
Underglaze does not always create the same glossy surface as regular glaze. When a glossy finish is wanted, it is commonly covered with a compatible clear glaze before firing.
Our Mayco Fundamentals set includes ten colors in four ounce jars for classrooms, studios, and frequent projects. The colors can be used for coverage, layering, and design work on clay, greenware, or bisque.
We also carry the Mayco Underglaze Set 1 with ten assorted colors in two ounce jars.
Firing ranges vary between Mayco underglaze products. Check the individual label because some colors may shift at higher temperatures.
Mayco Designer Liner
Mayco Designer Liner DLKIT is designed for lines, dots, lettering, typography, and intricate illustrations.
The clay based colors are heavily pigmented and come in bottles fitted with metal writer tips. The tip gives you more control than a standard brush when creating fine lines or small decorative details.
Designer Liner works best beneath a compatible transparent or semi transparent glaze that does not move excessively during firing. The product can fire from cone 06 through cone 6, but the instructions supplied with the kit should guide your project.
Clear Glaze
Clear glaze is commonly applied over compatible underglaze or Designer Liner to add shine while allowing the design underneath to remain visible.
Pure Brilliance Brush On Clear Glaze creates a glossy fired finish that enhances the colors beneath it. Its product instructions call for two flowing coats, drying between coats, followed by firing to cone 06.
Keep glaze away from areas that will contact the kiln shelf. Follow the product instructions for drying, stilting, and firing.
Colorobbia Ceramic Overglazes
Overglazes serve a different purpose from Stroke & Coat, underglaze, or clear glaze. They are applied to ceramics that have already been glazed and fired.
The piece then receives an additional decorative firing, often called a third firing.
Gold Overglaze
Gold overglaze adds reflective metallic details to borders, lettering, raised designs, ornaments, figurines, and decorative ware.
Choose between Colorobbia Liquid Bright Gold 8% and Colorobbia Premium Bright Gold 10%.
Platinum and Copper
Colorobbia Liquid Bright Platinum produces a reflective white gold appearance. Colorobbia Liquid Copper Lustre creates a warmer metallic accent.
Mother of Pearl
Colorobbia Mother of Pearl Overglaze creates a soft iridescent sheen. Its appearance changes with the light and can vary depending on the color and texture of the glaze underneath.
Apply Colorobbia overglazes only to a clean, dry, previously glazed surface. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for application, ventilation, drying, and third firing.
Which Ceramic Product Should You Choose?
For Colorful Overall Coverage
Choose Stroke & Coat when you want colorful glaze coverage that can range from translucent to opaque depending on the application.
For Painted Designs and Layered Color
Choose Mayco underglaze when you want controlled brushwork, color blending, patterns, and detailed designs on clay, greenware, or bisque.
For Fine Lines and Lettering
Choose Designer Liner when you want dots, names, lettering, borders, and intricate illustrations with a writer tip.
For a Glossy Transparent Finish
Choose a compatible clear glaze when you want to protect and add shine over underglaze or decorative detail.
For Metallic or Pearlescent Accents
Choose Colorobbia overglaze when the piece has already received its regular glaze firing and you want gold, platinum, copper, or Mother of Pearl details.
What If You Do Not Have Access to a Kiln?
Ceramic glazes, underglazes, and overglazes require kiln firing. If you are decorating bisque without access to a kiln, consider a no fire acrylic product instead.
Our OSKIT acrylic paint set can be used on unfinished ceramic bisque and allowed to dry without firing. Acrylic paint is decorative and is not the same as ceramic glaze.
Common Ceramic Glazing Mistakes
- Using a product on the wrong stage of clay or ceramic
- Assuming every glaze uses the same number of coats
- Firing every product to the same cone
- Applying clear glaze over an incompatible color product
- Using a moving glaze over fine Designer Liner details
- Applying overglaze directly to unfinished bisque
- Skipping a test tile when trying a new combination
- Allowing glaze to remain on areas that touch the kiln shelf
Always test unfamiliar combinations and follow the product label. Clay body, application thickness, underlying glaze, kiln atmosphere, and firing schedule can all affect the finished result.
Shop Ceramic Glazes and Finishes
Browse our Mayco ceramic colors and glazes for Stroke & Coat, underglaze, Designer Liner, and clear glaze.
For metallic and pearlescent third firing finishes, explore our Colorobbia overglaze collection.