The method of transfer printing or print design was an eighteenth century English invention. The technique was introduced in Maastricht around 1840.

From an engraved copper plate a print was made on special paper. This was then transferred to the ceramic object. The paper was put with the image down on the ceramic object and firmly rubbed with a soft cloth. That way the image was transferred to the ceramic object. Next, the paper was carefully detached from the object with water. The object was left to dry for a while, before it was put into the oven. The image was fixed onto the object by the heat.

Print designs could be applied under or over the glaze.  If desired, the print designs could be coloured in by hand later over the glaze. This gave the objects a more luxurious aspect.

Most copper engravings originated from England. That is were the independent engravers worked who engraved the decorations in the copper plates commissioned by the earthenware manufacturers. Thus we encounter the designs that were popular with the public in the range of products of various potteries. For the Maastricht potteries, the heyday of the printing technique was during the last decades of the nineteenth century.