Using Pampascolor Toners and Glazes
Ceramic stains, also known as ceramic pigments, have vastly opened up the color possibilities for potters. However, adding colors to your ceramic art can be tricky!
To make a good choice, you need to understand how the stains and glazes react with metallic oxides, salts, clay bodies, and silica. Some pigments are designed explicitly for clay bodies while others are unsuitable.
Underglaze Pigments
Ceramic Toners and Glazes are a great way to add color to your work. They are often used to decorate greenware, but they can also be applied to bisqued pottery for a glazed look.
Toners are produced with a variety of pigments and oxides. Some are formulated specifically for clay bodies while others are not. The pigments are usually a combination of metallic and mineral oxides that are both soluble and toxic. These ingredients are combined to make a powder that is stable and resistant to fading during firing.
The stains are often silkscreened onto paper that is then applied to dry or bisque ware. The colors can then be transferred by rubbing the paper down, revealing the design on the surface of the ware.
Pigments are available in a wide range of colors, from reds to blacks. They can be used for brushing on greenware or bisque, or for dipping in a clear glaze. They are also suitable for painting.
Some stains are a mixture of two or more colors, so that you can create different hues and tints by mixing them with a frit or glaze base. These stains are often used with transparent glazes to increase the intensity of their colors.
Other stains are only made with one or more colored oxides and can be used on dry ware only. These stains can be applied with a sponge or brush and then brushed on to dry ware before firing.
Many stains can be applied directly to dry or bisque ware without the use of an underglaze, however they will not hold their color well at high temperatures. These stains are generally not recommended for use on bone china or porcelain.
If you are decorating a piece of greenware or a bisqued piece that has already been decorated, the most common approach is to apply an underglaze, then bisque it and fire again. This gives you a final chance to get more coverage of your design if there was a spot that did not get enough color.
Another option is to apply a clear glaze over the top of your underglaze before firing. This is a good idea for any piece that has a pattern or design. If you don’t do this, the underglaze can absorb the glaze and crack or distort your design.
In addition, some underglazes will “dissolve” or “smudge” easier than others if you apply a clear glaze to them. This may result in a less smooth and more uniform finish than you would like, especially if you have been applying your underglaze to greenware or bisque.
Most underglazes are more like clay than glaze and will run if fired too hot. Most will burn out at Cone 10 but if you are going for an artistic finish, this shouldn’t be a problem. Just read the directions on each underglaze and test them at the temperatures you plan to fire to.
Underglaze Stains
Ceramic pigments are manufactured colorants for use in clay bodies and glazes, including underglazes and engobes. They provide a wide range of possibilities for potters and can be mixed in many ways to achieve unique colors. They are often used to add color to earthenware, greenware or bisque before glazing. They are also a pampascolor ceramic Toners and Glazes useful additive to slips and engobes when working with porcelain or white clays to create a variety of textures.
Pigments can be formulated for use in a wide range of bases from glazed to unglazed and include frits, oxides, stains and slips. The most common usage of these prepared pigments is as a base for an underglaze, however they can be added to other glaze and slip bases as well.
The most important consideration in selecting a colorant is the chemistry of its formulation. If it is a stain or pigment, the recipe must be compatible with the glaze or body.
Some colors are refractory and must be employed in higher percentages than others to produce color; they may need more melt fluidity in their medium. For example, a blue stain needs to be used in 5-10% of the overall recipe. Similarly, a green stain would need to be used in much more than double the total percentage to obtain color.
Commercial stains are essentially fritted colorants and have several advantages over raw metal oxides. They are not as soluble in water; they can be more easily controlled and fine-tuned for use in different firing conditions; and they are safer to use.
Stains are typically added to glazes at 5-8% (for more information about adding pigments to a glaze, see our article on Ceramic Pigments and Glazes). They also can be added to slips and clay bodies at 15-25%.
They are used to achieve colors that are difficult or impossible to achieve with raw metal oxides. For instance, reds are hard to achieve and require a lot of mixing and firing to get the right color.
The second advantage of stains is that they can be fired at lower temperatures than metal oxides, producing brighter colors. This is due to the fact that they contain ceramic pampascolor ceramic Toners and Glazes oxides along with coloring metal oxides and opacifiers which allow them to be fire at lower temperatures than their raw counterparts.
Another benefit of stains is that they are easy to mix with other ingredients, making them an excellent choice for adding color to a glaze or slip. This can be done by using a fritted medium with a high amount of stain or by mixing a slurry of powdered pigment and oxides.
Commercial stains are made by a variety of companies and are available in all sizes and colors. Most of them are marketed to the industrial ceramic industry, but there are some stain companies that specialize in the small pottery, hobby and craft markets. These companies have built a reputation for handling smaller orders and providing technical support to their customers.
Underglaze Glazes
Underglaze glazes are applied over greenware or bisque ware, usually at the leather hard stage. They are used to create an opaque coating that is resistant to abrasion and moisture. They also add color and texture to the ware. This allows the ceramics artist to work in a more painterly style.
Unlike slips or engobes, underglazes are not applied to bisque or dried ware; they are applied directly to wet or leather hard clay and fired. They are not as durable or as transparent as glazes, but they can be applied with a brush and are more versatile in the decoration process.
They can be mixed with glazes to produce new colors or shades. However, you should be careful to read the instructions for the glaze and make sure that the two are compatible with each other. They often are not and this may cause problems.
There are many different types of Underglazes available. Some of them are designed to be used on greenware, while others are made for use on bisque ware. Underglazes are great for adding color to a tile or piece of pottery, and they can save time in the firing schedule if the student is using a glaze that needs to be applied at the greenware stage.
If the underglaze is formulated to be applied on bisque ware, it is more durable and will not flake off during a glaze firing. It can also be more transparent than a glaze. This can be a benefit for the painter, as it is easier to see where the glaze has come off.
When applying an underglaze, it is important to paint it on to a dry surface and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the clay body to absorb the underglaze color and prevent it from dragging on the side of the tile.
Underglazes can be applied with a sponge, brush, or roller. Apply a few light coats with plenty of drying time in between each layer. It is important to use a soft, smooth brush and not a stiff one that can snag the clay.
It is also recommended to lightly dampen the ware with water before painting on the underglaze. This will help to ensure that the underglaze adheres to the ware and that the colors are evenly distributed on the surface of the ware.
Fundamentals(r) Underglazes are available in a variety of colors. They can be diluted with water to create a watercolor-like glaze. These tints can be layered to create shading and texture, as well as add a touch of realism to the tile or piece of pottery they are applied to.
Some of them can be used on red clay to add a colorful and vibrant look. They can also be applied with a brush to create more intricate designs or details.
