Underglaze and glaze sound similar and often get used in the same piece, but they do completely different jobs. Knowing which is which, and the order they go on, is the key to clean, controlled surface decoration.
Underglaze is for color and detail. It holds its shape, doesn't move much in the firing, and lets you paint lines, images, and precise designs. Glaze is the glassy coating that melts, flows, and seals the surface, giving you gloss, sheen, and a food-safe finish. In short: underglaze draws, glaze coats.
| Underglaze | Glaze | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Color & detail | Seal & finish |
| Moves in firing? | Very little | Melts and flows |
| Surface | Matte until glazed | Glossy or satin |
| Applied when | Greenware or bisque | Usually over bisque |
A key warning: apply underglaze too heavily under a clear coat and you can cause crawling, where the glaze beads away from the thick underglaze. Keep underglaze layers reasonable and let them dry before glazing over.
Reach for underglaze when you want crisp imagery, lettering, or fine linework that stays exactly where you put it. Reach for glaze when you want a flowing, glassy, functional surface. Most decorated functional ware uses both: underglaze for the design, a clear glaze to protect it and make it food-safe.
Even, reliable glaze firings make underglaze colors pop true. If your kiln fires unevenly, let's fix that. Call or text me, Spencer, at (801) 839-5882.
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