Use and Care Guide

GLAZED

1. Glazed porcelain can either have a white body, or a colored body that matches the

top glaze color.

2. With glazed porcelain, the hardness and abrasion resistance of the glaze (not the

body) will determine what application the tile is suitable for.

THROUGH BODY

Through body porcelain is unglazed and exhibits the same color and pattern from the

surface all the way through the tile.

DOUBLE LOADED

Double loaded porcelain, also known as “Double Charging” porcelain, is formed using

two layers of porcelain that are sandwiched together then ﬁred.

TILE BODY AND COMPOSITION

TYPES OF PORCELAIN

SCREENING

For screen printing, a form must be made for each shape of tile to provide a transfer.

Typically each form has its own color so using multiple colors will require multiple forms.

1. This process is similar to T-shirt printing where the colors are pressed

through the screen and applied to the surface of the tile.

2. Screening may work for some basic shaped tile but the more complex the

shape, the more dicult it is to decorate it.

ROTOCOLOR

This is still a most common method of glazing due to the cost, versatility, and durability

of the glaze. Approximate repeat: Every 10-20 tile, depending on the size.

Roto is the most common technique in mass production tile. The glaze image is applied

by a rotating drum. The tile surface comes in contact with the drum at random points of

the rotation.

1. This controlled random procedure makes each decorated article slightly

different which increases the overall attractiveness of items made by this process.

2. Also the breakthrough with this process is the ability to print uneven surfac-

es allowing the tile to be richer in texture and color.

DIGITAL INKJET PRINTING (HD TECHNOLOGY)

This is the newest and most advanced method of glazing. Approximate repeat: Every

25-40+ tile, depending on the tile size.

Digital printing provides a touchless printing process with the ability to print over high

and low reliefs as well as curved or oddly shaped trim pieces edge to edge.

1. Today, digital inkjet decoration is recognized as the leading tile printing

technique, helping tile manufacturers improve production eciency. HD Technolo-

gy allows tile manufactures to achieve high-deﬁnition, detailed looks of natural

products such as wood, stone and complex mosaics.

GLAZE APPLICATION PROCESS

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