CorelDRAW Tips: Ceramic Tiles Dye Sublimation Graphics

Everyone who makes tiles has learned that you have to leave a little image all the way around the tile. The reason? First, it is impossible to position a ceramic tile perfectly on an image that is the same size as the tile. Secondly, tiles vary slightly in size, even in the same batch and lastly, tiles expand when heated to 400° in a heat press. To make it as easy as possible and to insure there is enough left-over image for a tile, I add 2/10ths of an inch to each side of a four or six inch tile and even more to a ten or twelve inch tile. This makes it super easy to position the tile in the center of the image, fold two sides of the transfer around to the back of the tile and tape them in place. If the tile shifts a tiny bit in the process, no problem – I have extra image available.   

When making a mural, you might want to reduce extra image down to 1/10th of an inch so you don’t sacrifice too much image between the tiles – especially if you are working with a tile that doesn’t have spaces to the edges. Just remember, the smaller the extra image, the more careful you have to be when attaching the transfer to the tile. NEVER try to put a 4” tile on a 4” image – it almost never works. You need that extra bit of image as insurance. There are lots of things you can do with a sublimated tile. There are wire baskets and wall hangings, easels, trivets, message boards and a dozen other applications – besides murals. And the profit margin? very good. With a 4” tile ranging from about $1.35 to $2, and a retail of at least $15.95 each even without a trivet or other holding device, they are a great money maker. Haven’t tried making tiles yet? No problem. Check out Conde’s videos on making them and you will be an expert in no time.