Method and apparatus for creating 3D effects with ceramic inkjet inks
View Patent ↗A 3D relief effect is created on a ceramic tile with an inkjet printer and an inkjet print head by printing a relief pattern with an effect ink having a low surface tension on the ceramic tile. The inkjet printer and inkjet print head apply an aqueous glaze slurry having a high surface tension on top of the effect ink. An image is printed on the glaze and the tile is fired. A difference in surface tensions causes the aqueous glaze to move away from the printed effect ink, resulting in a relief pattern in the image at locations of the printed relief pattern.
1. A method for creating a 3D relief effect on a ceramic tile, comprising in order the following steps:
step one, with an inkjet printer and an inkjet print head, printing a relief pattern with an effect ink having a low surface tension on a ceramic tile;
step two, with said inkjet printer and an inkjet print head, applying an aqueous glaze slurry, having a high surface tension, on top of said effect ink;
step three, printing an image on said glaze; and
step four, firing said tile;
wherein a difference in surface tensions causes the aqueous glaze to move away from the printed effect ink, resulting in a relief pattern in said image at locations of the printed relief pattern.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein area and depth of the relief pattern is determined by the area and quantity of printed effect ink.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effect ink comprises a curable fluid.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
printing the effect ink on any of a dry tile; an engobe; and a glaze.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said glaze comprises any of glossy and matte glazes.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
printing the effect ink before at least one application of an aqueous mixture.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying one or more aqueous mixtures by any of analog methods, digital methods, or by a combination of both analog and digital methods.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
drying said aqueous glaze before printing said image.
9. A method for creating a 3D relief effect on a substrate, comprising in order the following steps:
step one, with an inkjet printer, using an inkjet print head, printing an ink on said substrate to provide a 3D effect;
step two, with said inkjet printer, and an inkjet print head, applying an aqueous glaze over said ink on said substrate;
step three, drying the glaze; and
step four, with the inkjet printer, and an inkjet print head, printing an image over said glaze.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said substrate comprises a pre-glazed ceramic tile and further comprises firing the tile after said image is printer thereon.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said image comprises a wood grain.