What is a decal? Definition, types and everything you need to know
What a decal is, where the word comes from, the main types and how a decal differs from a sticker or a temporary tattoo. A complete guide with frequently asked questions.
If you've ever wondered what a decal is, why it's called that and how it differs from a sticker or a temporary tattoo, you're in the right place. At Yatatu we make decals for the skin, so we know the term inside out: its history, the technique and how it's used in practice. This is the definitive guide.
A decal is an image, design or text printed on a special backing that is transferred to another surface (skin, wood, glass, metal or ceramics) using water, heat or pressure.
What “decal” means: origin and etymology
In English, “decal” is short for decalcomania, a word borrowed from the French décalcomanie, which is made up of two parts:
- décalquer: “to trace”, “to transfer”, “to copy by tracing”.
- manie: “mania”, “craze”, “passion”.
Put together, they mean “the craze, or the technique, of transferring images by tracing”, which is exactly what the process does. The French term became fashionable in the mid-19th century, when sheets of transferable images caught on across Europe as a pastime and as decoration.
In everyday English, especially in the US, “decal” is used more loosely for almost any image that is transferred or stuck onto a surface, from car and laptop vinyl to window graphics. In British English the traditional word for water-slide and rub-on images is “transfer”, and the ones made for the skin are usually just called temporary tattoos.
How a decal works: the transfer mechanism
Every decal works on the same principle. What changes from one type to another is what triggers the transfer:
| Activated by | How it works | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Water (wet transfer) | The paper is moistened, the adhesive is activated and the design slides onto its final surface. | Temporary tattoos for the skin, decals for ceramics and scale models. |
| Pressure (dry adhesive) | The backing carries a dry adhesive covered by a silicone-coated liner that is peeled off before applying. | Vinyl for cars, laptops, walls and objects. |
| Heat (heat transfer) | The heat of a press or an iron fuses the design onto fabric, wood or ceramics. | T-shirt printing, designs on mugs and plates. |
Types of decals: a complete classification
Decals can be classified in several ways: by the surface they go on, by what triggers the transfer and by the material. These are the most relevant types, grouped by use and target surface:
Skin decals (temporary tattoos)
They're applied with water and stay on the skin for 3-7 days. The inks are cosmetic grade and hypoallergenic, and they comply with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, which classifies these products as cosmetics. They're the most popular type for events, weddings, festivals and brand promotions. They're also called “water tattoos”, “transfer tattoos” or simply “temporary tattoos”.
Vinyl decals (for objects and vehicles)
Made from PVC or vinyl film with adhesive on the back. They're durable (2-7 years outdoors) and stand up to water and sunlight. They're used on cars, motorcycles, laptops, bottles and storefront windows. They're activated by pressure: you peel off the silicone-coated backing and stick them straight onto the surface.
Wall decals
Lower-density vinyl designed to stick to paint without damaging the surface when it's removed. They're removable and repositionable, and very popular for decorating kids' rooms, offices and stores. Some are made of fabric or polyester for textured surfaces.
Ceramic and model decals
Special paper printed with metal oxide inks that is transferred to ceramics or porcelain with water and fixed with a second firing at 700-850 °C. They're also used in scale modeling to add insignia, license plates and markings to plastic and metal.
Heat transfer decals (for fabric)
They're activated by heat (a household iron or an industrial press) and used to customize T-shirts, bags and uniforms. There are versions for printing at home (transfer paper for inkjet printers) and more durable industrial versions.
Decal vs. sticker: are they the same thing?
This is the most common question about the term. The short answer: they're not exactly the same, although in everyday speech the two words are often used interchangeably.
| Decal | Sticker |
|---|---|
| Works by transfer: the design moves from a temporary backing to its final surface. | Works by direct adhesion: it has its own adhesive and is stuck on without transferring anything. |
| The original backing (the paper) is removed after applying it. | No carrier is removed after applying it; the design stays on its own base material. |
| The result can look edge-free, as if it were part of the surface. | The outline of the sticker material usually remains visible. |
| Examples: water-slide temporary tattoo, ceramic decal, transfer vinyl. | Examples: price tag, decorative sticker, self-adhesive stamp. |
A brief history of the decal
The technique of transferring images with moisture goes back to 18th-century Europe, when English pottery factories such as Wedgwood began using sheets of printed paper to decorate earthenware and porcelain on a large scale. It was much faster than painting each piece by hand.
The term “décalcomanie” took off as a popular pastime in France in the mid-19th century and spread across Europe as a toy and a decorative item. In Spain, water transfers for children were a mass phenomenon in the sixties, seventies and eighties, when they came free in bags of candy, packs of chewing gum, pastries and potato chips.
From the 1990s on, as cosmetic inks and transfer adhesives improved, skin decals grew from a children's toy into a product for adults as well: brand merchandise, wedding favors, marketing activations and music festivals.
In 2013, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products began to apply throughout the European Union. It treats any product applied to the skin to change its appearance as a cosmetic, which brought the inks and adhesives of skin decals under regulation across Europe. Since then, manufacturers like Yatatu have had to meet the same safety standards as makeup manufacturers.
Skin decals: what they are and how they work
Skin decals, also called water transfer tattoos, transfer tattoos or simply temporary tattoos, are the most popular type of decal for personal use and events. Here are the essentials; if you want to know exactly what happens between the paper, the water and the skin, we explain it in how temporary tattoos work.
How to apply a decal to the skin
Applying a decal to the skin always follows the same steps, in the same order.
- 1
Clean the skin
Clean the area of skin (no lotion, no oil).
- 2
Cut out the design
Cut out the design, leaving a small margin around it.
- 3
Remove the protective film
Peel off the clear protective film.
- 4
Place it face down
Place the design face down on the skin.
- 5
Press with water
Press with a damp sponge for 30 seconds.
- 6
Peel off the paper
Peel off the paper: the design stays on the skin.
For step-by-step tips on getting a perfect result, see our guide on how to apply a temporary tattoo. Yatatu skin decals are made with cosmetic-grade inks, are hypoallergenic and are dermatologically tested. They last 3 to 7 days depending on the area of the body and how much it rubs (we go into detail in how long temporary tattoos last), and they come off easily with body oil or soap and water.
What are decals used for? The main uses
Decals have a very wide range of uses. These are the most common ones today:
Personal decoration
- Customizing objects: laptops, water bottles, helmets, guitars, skateboards.
- Decorating walls and furniture indoors.
- Temporary body art with no permanent commitment.
Events and celebrations
- Weddings: temporary wedding tattoos with the couple's names, the date and illustrations.
- Birthdays: birthday party tattoos with kids' themes, superheroes, animals or custom designs.
- Music festivals: the festival's brand identity printed on the attendees' skin.
- Bachelor and bachelorette parties: “Team Bride” / “Team Groom” sets.
- Corporate events: the company logo on the skin (tattoos for events and businesses) as a memorable branding tool.
Advertising and marketing
- In-store brand activations: a logo on the skin gets people talking and taking photos they share of their own accord.
- Light, affordable merchandise for product launches.
- Sports and race sponsorship: the sponsor's name on athletes' arms or legs.
- Experiential marketing: participants literally carry the brand with them for days.
Industrial and technical uses
- Scale modeling: water-slide decals for adding details to model planes, trains and cars.
- Ceramics and porcelain: mass decoration with kiln-fired decals.
- Automotive: transfer vinyl for vehicle and fleet graphics.
Are a decal and a temporary tattoo the same thing?
This is another very common source of confusion. The answer depends on the context.
On the skin: yes, they're the same product. When people talk about skin decals for events, weddings or personal use, “decal” and “temporary tattoo” refer to the same product: a water transfer image applied to the skin. The difference is only in the wording: “temporary tattoo” puts the emphasis on the look (it resembles a tattoo), while “decal” puts it on the transfer technique.
In general: not necessarily. A decal can be made for ceramics, wood, glass or vinyl and have nothing to do with tattoos; it's a broader term. “Temporary tattoo”, on the other hand, refers specifically to a product for the body.
At Yatatu we make decals in the skin sense of the word: custom temporary tattoos with cosmetic-grade inks. Our range includes decals in color (black too), in color with a real white underlayer so they show up on darker skin, in white, and in metallic gold and silver.
Design your custom skin decal with Yatatu
We manufacture skin decals (custom temporary tattoos) ourselves in Málaga, Spain. Made-to-measure designs, cosmetic-grade inks and no minimum order. We make them in 24 hours (gold and silver take a little longer), and you'll see the delivery date when you place your order. Our customers rate us 4.9 out of 5 on Google.
Frequently asked questions about decals
What's the difference between a decal and a temporary tattoo?
When it comes to the skin, both terms refer to the same product: an image printed on transfer paper that is applied with water. The difference is one of emphasis: “decal” highlights the transfer technique, while “temporary tattoo” highlights the look on the skin. In broader technical contexts, “decal” can also mean products for ceramics, vinyl or fabric that have nothing to do with the skin.
Are skin decals safe?
Yes, as long as the manufacturer uses cosmetic-grade inks that comply with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. This European regulation classifies skin decals as cosmetics and requires the same safety checks as for makeup. Yatatu decals are hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested. They're suitable from age 3; for very sensitive skin, we recommend trying a small design first, for example on the forearm.
How long does a decal last on the skin?
Between 3 and 7 days under normal conditions. How long it lasts depends on the area of the body (on hands, fingers, elbows and knees it lasts 1 to 3 days), on aftercare (keep lotions and exfoliants off the decal) and on physical activity. On areas with less friction, such as the shoulder or the forearm, it usually lasts 5 to 7 days.
What is a water decal?
“Water decal” is another name for wet transfer decals: the paper is moistened with water to activate the adhesive and transfer the design to its final surface. On the body they're called water transfer tattoos or temporary tattoos. In scale modeling and ceramics they're usually called water-slide decals.
Can decals be customized with any design?
Yes. At Yatatu you can upload your own design as a PNG, JPG or PDF (ideally in good resolution) or choose one from our store, then set the size, finish and quantity on the website, with no minimum order; the editor lets you crop the image and remove the background. You can customize them with names, dates, logos, illustrations, photos or any other graphic you have.
What's the difference between a vinyl decal and a paper decal?
Vinyl decals are durable (2-7 years outdoors) and resistant to water and UV light, and they're used on cars, storefront windows and permanent signage. Paper decals are cheaper, ideal for indoor and short-term use, and are used on notebooks, gifts and temporary decorations. Neither is suitable for the skin: for use on the body you need decals made specifically with cosmetic-grade adhesives and inks.