What is the process that allows for long-lasting non-digital prints onto ceramics?

August 13, 2009 4:15 AM

What is the process that allows for long-lasting non-digital prints onto ceramics?

I know that most printing on ceramics these days is digital, but I've seen thousands of examples of photographic-quality prints on ceramic or porcelain tiles made before anything like digital printing was around. Most notably, these are small, oval portraits on many graves here in Poland. They hold up remarkably well to being out in the sun for years at a time, I am intrigued.

I'm pretty competent in traditional darkroom photography, and I tried googling for the technique but came up empty - most of my results were tied to digital printing or painting on tiles.

Any info or links about the technique would be appreciated.

posted by jedrek to technology (4 comments total)

My guess would be silk-screening

Googling "silk-screening ceramics suggests this guess is correct.

This is the first link returned:
http://www.printandclay.net/printandclay/viewpointtext.htm
It seems to be a nice overview and recommends some publications.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:27 AM on August 13

You can choose from several brands of liquid emulsion which will work on wood and ceramics or any other substrate. You still need to put a waterproof glaze over the processed emulsion afterwards.
posted by JJ86 at 6:16 AM on August 13

most likely screen printing, using underglaze ceramic colorants.
posted by hereticfig at 12:09 PM on August 13

Thanks for the great answers, silk-screening is what I was looking for.
posted by jedrek at 10:53 AM on August 15