How ORCA coating takes a print

The surface does the work.

The ceramic gives the mug its shape. The thin ORCA polymer layer on the outside receives the dye. In a compatible mug press, heat releases dye from the printed paper and the dye diffuses into that receptive layer. When the mug cools, the artwork is held within the coating.

Ordinary glazed ceramic doesn’t offer the same receptive layer. A glossy white blank gives translucent sublimation colours a light background. White areas in artwork typically show the colour of the blank.