Editing Decal (section)

{{Short description|Pattern or image that can be moved to another surface upon contact}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}
[[File:C.O.L.B.E.R.T. decal placement.jpg|thumb|A decal being attached to a piece of machinery]]

A '''decal''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|iː|k|æ|l}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|d|ᵻ|ˈ|k|æ|l}}, {{small|[[Canadian English|CAN]]}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɛ|k|əl}})<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decal| title = Decal Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster}} </ref> or '''transfer''' is a [[plastic]], [[cloth]], [[paper]], or [[ceramic]] [[substrate (printing)|substrate]] that has printed on it a [[pattern]] or image that can be moved to another surface upon [[wikt:contact|contact]], usually with the aid of [[heat]] or [[water]].

The word is short for ''[[decalcomania]]'', a decorative technique by which engravings and prints are transferred to pottery or other materials.  The technique was invented by [[Simon François Ravenet]] (1706-1774), an engraver from France who later moved to England and perfected the process he called "décalquer" (which means "to copy by tracing"); it became widespread during the decal craze or mania of the late 19th century.