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Ceramic Transfers


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Hello all,

I'm trying to find a way to create my own ceramic transfers, either for greenware or glazed work. At this point I'm contemplating buying an epson printer, filling with sublimation ink,and printing onto ceramic transfer paper. I'm not clear yet if this would withstand firing or not but I thinks its a fairly safe guess to say not, and that the image transfer would be the final stage. Any thoughts or recomendations? Has anyone tried to do this? Thanks!

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http://lindaarbuckle.com/handouts/laser-decals-for-ceramics.pdf

 

The only cheap home version is to buy a laser printer that uses iron in its toner and get iron coloured transfers. Different colours are going to be much more expensive as they are ceramic specific. Black toner is cheap.

 

Or send them off to somebody who has the ceramic colour printers.

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I think this technique has been described in a CAD video, see if you can find it on YouTube.

 

When you've selected your design, get a negative, and mirror, image using a computer.  Print this image using a laser printer or photocopy machine; an ink jet printer doesn't use toner and won't work.

 

When you have the printout of the negative image very gently dab underglaze onto the bare white areas (Not every brand or type of underglaze will work.  I've had success with Amaco velvet).  The underglaze will bead up on the areas covered by toner, dab it off with a clean brush.

 

To transfer, place the design face down on leather hard or bisque ware. Sponge the back of the paper with water, use a squeegee like tool (I've use a red rib) to smoothe the back of the paper.  Turn up a corner to see how the design is doing, and continue the wetting and squeegeeing until you're satisfied or the paper starts to fall apart.

 

You can also use an ink jet printer an print a positive, mirror, image.  Put it ink side down, wet and rub and the ink will transfer.  The ink will burn off in the kiln, so go over it with underglaze or glaze.

 

Good luck,

 

Cynthia

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I think this technique has been described in a CAD video, see if you can find it on YouTube.

 

When you've selected your design, get a negative, and mirror, image using a computer.  Print this image using a laser printer or photocopy machine; an ink jet printer doesn't use toner and won't work.

 

When you have the printout of the negative image very gently dab underglaze onto the bare white areas (Not every brand or type of underglaze will work.  I've had success with Amaco velvet).  The underglaze will bead up on the areas covered by toner, dab it off with a clean brush.

 

To transfer, place the design face down on leather hard or bisque ware. Sponge the back of the paper with water, use a squeegee like tool (I've use a red rib) to smoothe the back of the paper.  Turn up a corner to see how the design is doing, and continue the wetting and squeegeeing until you're satisfied or the paper starts to fall apart.

 

You can also use an ink jet printer an print a positive, mirror, image.  Put it ink side down, wet and rub and the ink will transfer.  The ink will burn off in the kiln, so go over it with underglaze or glaze.

 

Good luck,

 

Cynthia

 

 

I have tried this one before too. You actually need a gum solution and an ink made from colouring oxide and boiled linseed oil. You dab the solution over the print-out and roller on the ink. Wash and repeat. The ink will stick to the toner not the white paper.

 

It was messy and none of my images really showed up after glaze firing. Always hard to get a thick layer of ink. 

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Are you looking for color or monotone images? Images with lots of details and words or just simple patterns?

 

The type of imagery you are looking to use will often dictate the method of transfer needed to be used.

 

I use:

Mason Stain Transfer

Underglazes Transfers

Laser Transfers

Silkscreen Transfers

Color Ceramic Ink Transfers (purchased)

Etc

 

They all work depending on the look you are going for. More details on what you are trying to do might help so I can give you a better idea what method to use.

 

T

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