I purchased some ceramic tiles from Conde (OT4). A Friend of mine wanted me to put his wife's picture on one so that he can put it on her headstone. Conde set me up with everything I needed to make these. The very first one I ever made came out absolutely perfect! The guy I made it for was shocked at how good it looked. He then asked me what he needed to use to "glue" it to the headstone? Does anyone know what should be used? I am guessing some kind of silicone so that it can be removed if need be. Any help would be great!
Your absolutely right, sublimation is not good for outdoors. I told the guy that repeatedly! The monument people charge about $300.00 but they have a whole different process and guarantee it forever. I am charging $15.00 a tile. I have to say the tile came out incredible! The guy was shocked. But again I told him it wouldn't hold up out in the sunlight. He insisted and wants to give it a try. I told him to use a good silicone and he told me that he is going to use 2 sided tape. So we shall see, LOL. Hey I made a customer very happy, I also repeatedly warned him. For the record I ordered the tiles just for this guys request. Right now he has a picture he made on a color laser printer and then laminated and put on the grave.
I do sublimation printing for my business as well as photo crystals. Just for my own knowledge is there any other process or way to make something similar that will hold up in sunlight? I have seen photo holders and cemeteries that have a little door to open and see the picture. But I can't find where to buy those wholesale. I doubt I will get anymore request like this, but I just never know.
There is a spray that you can use that blocks the UV and keeps the dye sublimation items that will be used outdoors from fading.
It is called frog juice and Heat Transfer, Dye Sublimation and Engraving Equipment & Supplies Source carries it.
I have only used it on License plates and have not really seen a difference or any fading but them again it has only been a couple of months.
Just thought I would pass that on just in case.
As far as securing it to a headstone I would go with silicone as you suggested. Double sided tape...hmmmmmm?
I wanted to follow up and comment on Frog Juice. I ordered 2 cans of that stuff. I sprayed a ceramic tile and the strangest thing happened. The colors began to blur. I mean the colors actually ran. Almost as though it was washing the sublimated image right off the tile. I was actually shocked and didn't know that was even possible. I don't think I'll be using Frog Juice anymore, lol.
You also have to worry about de-lamination of the uv coatings (Frog Juice etc). I have heard this is a problem sometimes after some time goes by. Usually uv coatings dont play well with sublimation coatings.
I use Liquid Nails for Small Projects. Yes, the image will fade if exposed to sunlight. If you apply a clear coating on tiles, any thing white will turn yellow.
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Another item of note. Your client also wants to put a bit of clear silicone around the tile edges. When water gets behind a ceramic tile, it can soak up water. Winter freezing temperatures can crack the tile. This is also why porcelain tiles are often used outside. The don't soak up water.
You might want to try Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Clear Satin Spray on the tile. I would do a sample, uses several light coats of Helmsman and then use a piece of cardboard to cover half of the image, put it out side for a few weeks/months and see what happens. Remove the covered side to see if there is any fading of the image. That's if you want to make more and sell them for say...$250!
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