Lazertran Techniques

Lazertran Tiled Panel Project

12 4 inch tiled panel decorated with a design by Stuart Evans

Lazertran can, amongst it's many applications be used to decorate ceramics tiles. The method below will give a water and steam proof finish but can be scratched if you use abrasive cleaners.

Method

  1. Copy your image in reverse or mirror onto the shiny side of a sheet of Lazertran using a color photo copier
  2. Once copied heat the sheet of Lazertran in a domestic oven for a few minutes to make sure the toners have been melted properly. This will avoid tiny pinholes occurring later in the process. You need to set your oven to about 180 degrees C 350 degrees F or gas mark 6. You will find the colors go very shiny. You can also do this using a heat gun
  3. Arrange your tiles carefully onto the Lazertran sheet and position so you have an even border around the tiles. I have used an A3 sheet, or in the USA a 17"x11" sheet and this fits a 12" x 4" tile panel almost perfectly
  4. Place the first tile in the corner and cut around it with a sharp blade. Continue doing this until all 12 tiles have been cut
  5. Soak the cut Lazertran squares in a tray of clean water for about 2 minutes. The Lazertran will roll up. Lift out of the water and place, face down, onto the first tile. Slide off the white backing sheet leaving the decal face down on the tile
  6. Position, then using a rubber squeegee remove any air bubbles and moisture from under the decal. Continue until all 12 tiles have their decals applied
  7. Place all the tiles in a cold domestic oven. Set the temperature on the lowest possible setting

Leave for at least one hour then slowly increase the temperature in 10 minute stages until the surface of the tile goes very shiny and sticky. This will take some time but as a guide the temperature should reach about 180 degrees C, 380 degrees F or gas mark 6 or 7. The most important thing is that the decal goes shiny. Turn the oven off when the decals have properly melted and allow to cool. N.B. Be careful using grout as the grout is abrasive and may scratch the image.



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