Printing images using special color toners that must be printed on special flux paper and a modified printing machine then fired in a kiln is becoming quite popular with headstone manufacturers. Companies that have purchased special color printers along with a kiln and software to edit the images can benefit from lower prices and on time manufacturing. Currently there are for those not willing to print their own cameos only one wholesale manufacturer of finished porcelain cameos in many sizes to accommodate different sizes of monuments or headstones. This supplier has a much higher piece price and longer lead times. I say only 1 supplier in the USA that can manufacture a porcelain blank cameo tiles picture fired on a steel platform that looks and resembles the original photo, all other suppliers using ceramic toners does not come close in color quality.
What Colors Should You Use On Your Porcelain Blank Cameo Tiles
The issues in producing your porcelain cameo are immense in the start up phase. It is vital to have photo shop knowledge and the understanding of RGB vs CMYK colors. Your computer screen is not the same as the printer for ceramic toners so a complex conversion program must be written by the manufacturer or retailer of these machines so you get what you see on your screen after you send it to your ceramic printer. Issues include streaks in the printing, moisture in your print room, drying of the water slide paper and worst the blisters on your finished cameo once you remove it from the kiln. We found that there was really no one place where you could get all of your questions answered so having a network of friends in the industry is vital at start up.
I found this process to be substandard in color especially the reds and not very forgiving after firing. Customers if willing to accept off color images makes this process somewhat workable and profitable. So don’t give up trying to improve your skills until you master the process.
Which Printer to use for your Porcelain Blank Cameo Tiles
What the printer will be required to print these images on is what we call a pure blank porcelain tile. These tiles have a smooth glass like pure white finish. These tiles come in all shapes and predetermined sizes. Round, oval, rectangles, Hearts and many more shapes that we at American Headstones can supply. Cameos are domed shape and usually set about ¼” into the face of the stone with a caulking around the edges.
We retail these porcelain cameo blanks throughout the USA primarily to headstone manufacturers that make their own cameos. They range from $7.00 a blank up to $11 depending on size. We stock the most popular sizes of porcelain blank cameo tiles used in the headstone industry and can order your special sizes with a commitment from you when purchasing. Special orders can take up to 10 days from order entry to me receiving the product and shipping to the customer.
Located in Southern California, American Headstones Company is your source for Porcelain blank tiles used in the manufacturing of photographs that are placed on tombstones or monuments.
