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SCREEN PRINTING ON CERAMIC TILES
The combination of screen-printing and ceramics combines two art processes in one. The tiles
can be created and used as individual objects or combined with other tiles for collaborative
mural projects. Screen Printed ceramic tiles are an exciting medium that opens new avenues
of expression.
Materials needed include the following: Speedball 10” x 12” screen with 10xx mesh
Speedball large screen hinges 3/16” foam board
4” x 4” bisque fired porcelain tiles Speedball Diazo photo emulsion kit
Speedball Underglazes Speedball Clear glaze
6” Speedball squeegee Water supply
Sponge Towel
Masking tape Craft knife
Water supply Electric kiln or Fire finished tiles found
at your local Ceramic shop
Optional materials include: - Speedball Screen filler and Drawing fluid
- Brushes
First, a frame needs to be created to hold the tiles while printing.
Carefully trace the tile onto a piece of foamboard locating the tile about 3” from one end
and 3” from each of the sides. Cut this window opening out with a craft knife. The
unique positioning of the window allows part of the board to extend beyond the screen frame
for ease in positioning. You can cut two small semicircles along the side edges of the window
to facilitate removing the tile once it is printed.
In preparing an image for this project several factors should be kept in mind. The nature
of underglaze particulates may clog a finer mesh screen. Using Speedball® 8XX mesh screen
minimizes clogging, but still affords excellent resolution of image.
Create your screen art by one of the four methods we have reviewed.
For this demonstration we have created a design using the photo emulsion method.
If using a 4” x 4” tile, scale the image to be a bit smaller to accommodate the slight
rounding at the tile’s edges.
Attach the screen to the hinges and tighten to prevent slippage. Register your screen
to the jig that will hold the tiles.
You are now ready to print. Make sure that the screen is kept lightly moist with a slightly
damp clean sponge at all times.
Print the image using Speedball underglazes onto the tile, removing each from the stationary
jig carefully - so as not to smear the wet underglaze or shift the taped position of
the jig.
You can repeat the process for subsequent glazes if printing colors in registration.
CLEANUP: UNDERGLAZE FROM SCREEN Wash with warm water IMMEDIATELY after the
last tile is pulled.
Use warm water and a soft brush. Should glaze dry in the screen, spray with a household
window cleaner, and rub with a lint-free cloth. When glaze is removed, wash with a mix of
warm water and dishwasher detergent using a soft brush.
Then rinse with warm water.
FIRING THE TILE
One firing is possible by applying 2 to 3 smooth flowing coats of clear glaze with Speedball
Brush-Tools. Once the underglaze is completely dry, fire the tile as directed to Cone 05
– 06.
For best results, fire the tiles with only the underglazes applied. After properly fired
and cooled, coat the tiles with a clear glaze and fire again according to the glaze specifications.
This will seal the entire surface of the tile.