INEQS engineers answer the same questions every week: which set for which glaze, why a red fired brown, how to prepare a file, what a kiln needs to do. This section is those answers in one place. It is maintained by the people who formulate the toner and service the printers, and it is updated when the products change.
Where to start
The guides below are grouped by the question you are trying to answer. Each one is short, practical and written for people who fire real ware.
Choosing a system
- Choosing a ceramic printer: format, monthly volume and toner family, and what to ask any supplier
- Fluxed vs unfluxed ceramic toner: which toner your ware needs and why
- Underglaze, in-glaze or onglaze transfers: the three decoration levels and which your ware can take
- Evaluating a ceramic toner supplier: the questions that separate a supplier from a reseller
Printing and firing
- Preparing files for ceramic printing: resolution, colour profiles, printable areas and margins
- How to fire ceramic decals: temperatures, curves, kiln ventilation and common faults
- Printer room conditions: temperature and humidity for stable colour
Reference
- FAQ: short answers from the INEQS technical team
- Glossary: covercoat, flux, developer and the other terms of ceramic printing
For the whole process in one page, from print to fired piece, read how digital ceramic printing works. If your question is not answered anywhere here, email info@ineqs.com and an engineer will reply.
Most asked questions
- Why did my reds fire brown? The peak was too high for the set, or a magenta set was used where a red set was needed. See how to fire ceramic decals.
- What is the glossy square around my decal? That is the sticker effect of a fluxed covercoat. See fluxed vs unfluxed toner.
- Why did print density drop after winter? Almost always humidity. See printer room conditions.
- Which file format should I send? See preparing files for ceramic printing.