Pixiq

Still trying to figure out what to do with those ancient pictures stuffed in a box at the back of your closet? I have recently been exploring transferring images onto fired clay surfaces via a decal method. I figured since using Delphi Decal paper works for fusing the images onto glass using a kiln, (see my new book for how to do this), that one might be able to translate the same concept with ceramics. Well, guess what? It worked. These images are experiments I was planning to throw out and clearly this will work better when adhering the photographic decals to a smooth surface from everything that I have read on the Internet- basically, I followed the same steps for output that I discussed in my new book Digital Image Transfer: Creating Art With Your Photography. Except fusing the decal to ceramics is a bit trial and error. Cone 04 temperature works best and from what I have gleaned one can adhere it directly to a surface that has already been glazed, but I cheated: I used a low-fire clear glaze (by Amaco ) that vitrifies at Cone 04 and coated the bisque fried piece with the clear glaze and then added the photographic decal on top (thus bypassing a step). I expected it to burn out but imagine my surprise when I opened the kiln lid and discovered that lo and behold, it worked. Mecca! Stay tuned for my “fine-tuning of this process”. I have used Liquid Light in the past, which works perfectly in the darkroom to adhere images onto bisque fired clay but I wanted something with a glazed surface and have found a method that works. Next, I will compare the Delphi Decal paper against BelDecal paper. My experience in the past using BelDecal paper has been unsuccessful, (it has gummed up more than one printer;((; but according to Frank Gaydos’ website, he marries the paper perfectly to glazed ceramics using the HP laser printers with 60% iron oxide content. So I will try this out soon and post on that. But first I need to make something in clay. Since ceramics was my first love, I cant wait to wed photographs to its once silky body.
As always, ever art.