Silk Screen Printing With Ceramic Toners and Glazes
Ceramic toners and glazes are available in a variety of options. One of these options is the use of Silk Screen printing. This is an option that is suitable for hobbyists and potters alike. Another type of toner and glaze is the reactive fluid melter. However, these types of toners and glazes may cause blisters and pits during the decal firing process.
Glossy glazes absorb design better
Glossy glazes can be found in almost any kind of ceramic. They can be translucent, opaque or coloured. However, the best ones are clear.
The gloss factor is usually attributed to the presence of lead, a substance that has been associated with health issues. Luckily, there are now many lead-free products on the market, so you can rest assured that your next ceramic masterpiece will be free of lead and other hazardous substances.
There are many varieties of glossy glazes, but a good way to judge them is by their effect on the transfer of design. Generally, a thicker layer of glaze will be able to absorb and protect your transfer design better.
When choosing a glossy glaze, you should also be aware of the amount of flux and sio2:Al2O3 ratio that it contains. Glazes high in Al2O3 are generally matte, whereas those high in SiO2 are more likely to be shiny.
One of the best features of a glossy glaze is the ability to create a pattern. If you’re working with a pattern-covered piece, a thick layer of glaze will be able to hide it, while adding depth. You can apply underglazes to bisque ware at any stage, including greenware.
A matte-like glaze is also available, but it’s less than the glossy cousin. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for the most impactful and efficient way to absorb a design onto your work.
Although it may not be as pronounced as the gloss or the satin-matte, the luster glaze is the clearest of all. These are fired at low temperatures to give them a metallic, iridescent or pearlescent effect. The name is a bit misleading, since it is not really durable. This kind of glossy glaze will not survive the microwave.
However, you can get a dazzling luster on your ceramics with some Ceramic Toners and Glazes practice. In fact, there are many different types of lusters, from platinum to mother of pearl.
For the most part, you’ll have to do a bit of research to find the right one for your project. If you’re still unsure, ask your local supplier for help.
Reactive fluid melters can cause blisters and pits during decal firing
Using reactive fluid melters to decorate glazed ware can lead to blisters and pits in the fired piece. Reactive glazes may contain organic additives that can generate gases when the body is heated.
Blisters and pits in decals can be caused by over-firing, irregular kiln firing, excessive underglaze or glaze application, or lack of drying. They can also be caused by contamination of the surface before decoration. Fortunately, many of the defects that result from these causes are easy to detect using durability tests.
During decal firing, thick ware must pass through cristobalite inversions. If a piece of thick ware isn’t allowed to rest after this, it can cause cracking. This type of defect is generally seen in pieces that have been burned through a rapid firing cycle.
In addition to cracking, blisters can form. These bubble-like defects can appear as craters on glazed ware or as rough, bald spots on the glaze. The size of the blisters can vary.
Decals should be fired at the recommended temperature. Ideally, the decal should be fired at a temperature range of 820c – 840c (1508f – 1544f) with 250c Ceramic Toners and Glazes – 300c (482f – 572f) per hour. An extended ramp to 100c (212f) can be used to remove moisture. A slow re-firing can repair the blister.
Ceramic glazing is a type of substrate that is bonded to the surface. Often, the glazed ware is able to be fired immediately after the application. Typical defects from the firing process can include cover-coat haze, pinholes, and surface defects.
Blisters can be caused by the following: boron high temperature glazes, reactive glazes, and overly thick glazes. Glazes with zero boron will not soften during decal firing. High boron glazes are designed to form their own glass structures. However, if the boron is too high, the glaze will want to separate from the body.
Other defects are caused by uneven drying, insufficient ventilation, or the improper handling of the ware. To test for these defects, a durable glaze can be applied to a glazed piece and fired.
mz Toner Technologies offers two main colour spaces
mz Toner Technologies is the world’s premiere manufacturer of ceramic toners. They offer a wide range of toners, toner sets and other toner centric accessories. Aside from the standard CMYK set, they have also mastered the art of infusing toners with flux, which translates to high quality complex prints. The name of their game is resolving colour mismatches. Their customers include some of the world’s largest manufacturers of porcelain and other kitchenware. mz Toner Technologies is the best in the business, and you’ll be happy to know they’re still in business, 20 years after their founding. You can find out more about their offerings by browsing their website or contacting their friendly sales team.
mz Toner Technologies has a number of different colour toners to choose from. From their flagship mz-toner-toner mc to their smallest mcs, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Whether you’re a designer looking for the perfect mc, a manufacturer of glazed tableware looking to expand your product portfolio or an entrepreneur with a need for a toner-to-toner conversion, mz Toner Technologies is the aficionado’s choice. They can be found at the following locations: Berlin (Germany); New York (USA); Chicago (USA); Paris (France); Los Angeles (USA); London (UK); Singapore and Shanghai (China). mz Toner Technologies is truly a one-stop shop for all your toner-related needs. For more information, visit their website today. mz Toner Technologies is the e-commerce wizards of the ceramic industry, and they’ll be more than happy to discuss all your toner requirements, from toners to toner sets to toner machines. Or, for your own convenience, try their online store, where you can find the complete list of toner products and pricing.
Silk screen printing is an option for hobbyists and potters
If you’re a hobbyist or potter who is interested in decorating your ceramics, silk screen printing is a great option. It can be used on a variety of fired ceramic surfaces. There are several factors to consider when choosing this method, however.
The first step is to decide what you’re going to print. Some ideas include a picture, words, or a slogan.
Once the artwork is ready, you need to prepare the screen. Generally, you’ll want to buy a 20×24 aluminum frame. This will help keep your screen in place while you’re printing.
A screen can be stored in a three ring binder or in an envelope. When you’re ready to use the screen, it’s important to wash it. To make it easy to clean, you can use a wide tip dry erase marker. These markers are a bit more durable than regular ones and will stay on the screen after you’ve washed it.
Silk screen printing is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create a custom-made t-shirt or water bottle. Often, companies will have their logo printed on the front of the shirt.
In addition to t-shirts, you can also use screen printing on glass or other surfaces. Normally, you’ll need to use an ink-blocking stencil and a rib to help you push the ink through the screen. You can make your own ink by mixing a stain with a silk-screen medium.
Once you’ve created the design, you can either apply it to your pottery directly, or you can paint it. For this method, you’ll need to mix your own ink, but you can also use commercial underglazes. Many commercial underglazes are made for brushing, while others have better consistency for screen printing.
Silk screening has a long history in the tile industry. Potters have been using this technique for transfers since the mid-18th century. Initially, the process involved printing on tissue paper from engraved copper plates. As the method evolved, it became a complete merchanised printing process.
Depending on the size of the transfer, you may need to purchase a separate screen for each color. You can get screens with varying mesh sizes.