Ceramic Arts Daily – Pottery Video of the Week:: How to Make a Ceramic Tile Model with Relief Decoration for a Plaster Press Mold

Plaster press molds are extremely handy tools when creating custom ceramic tile – especially for large projects or production. To make these press molds, you need to first come up with a prototype to use to make your mold. In today’s video, an excerpt from Handmade Tiles, Frank Giorgini demonstrates how to make a ceramic tile model with relief patterning to use as a prototype for a plaster press mold. If you are thinking of taking on a tile project, watch and learn from Frank’s many years of experience. – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

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This clip was excerpted from the full-length DVD
Handmade Tiles with Frank Giorgini.

To learn about pouring a plaster mold, see Making a One-Piece Plaster Mold in the Ceramic Arts Daily Video Archives!

For more information on making plaster press molds with relief decoration, see Making Multiples: Cavity Molds for Handmade Ceramic Tiles in the Ceramic Arts Daily Archives!

For more tile and mosaic projects be sure to download your free copy of How to Design, Make and Install Ceramic Tile Murals and Mosaics: Design Tips and How-To Instructions for Handmade Ceramic Tile Projects.

Fawzia December 20, 2011 at 3:21 am -

Hi Frank, Excellent work…. Thank you for sharing. I Love this Idea very match
moh November 6, 2011 at 4:50 pm -

Thanks …
James February 21, 2011 at 11:49 am -

While the end product was a work-of-art, the Video Topography was lacking. I think there should have been more over view of the master working.
Zola February 19, 2011 at 5:18 pm -

Thank you, Rietje.
pete February 19, 2011 at 1:54 pm -

Hi Frank…Last year I built a tile press from the plans in your excellent book. I beefed it up a little, using 1 1/8″ plywood sub-flooring instead of 3/4″ ply throughout, and nylon sleeve-bushings to guide the two “up-and-down” pipes. Otherwise it is the same, since I could see nothing else in the plans that needed improvement. Now comes the time to try it out, since your video has convinced me how simple it can be to come up with a good mold. Thanks for everything!
Rietje February 19, 2011 at 12:45 pm -

@ Helen You should be ashamed of yourself by placing such a comment! Not everybody speaks or writes english or american fluently. Be proud of the people who dare to react on this site and the instructive videos. They are the brave ones on this planet ! easy remarks aren’t.
frances February 19, 2011 at 11:10 am -

HI, I LOVE THIS IDEA AND CANT WAIT TO TRY IT… MY ONLY COMMENT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CLOSE UP OF WORK.. I FIND THIS PROBLEM WITH MOST VIDEOS THAT ARE SHOWN… THANKS FOR THE IDEAS, FRAN
Valerie February 19, 2011 at 1:21 am -

How exciting!!! I will be making tiles in the next couple of days..this video has come along just in time to help! I am going to search out this guy’s book. I’m impressed…and (I have to apologize but) it is not easy to impress me. This guy is the King of tile makers as another commenter said…Now to find his book!
lyn February 18, 2011 at 9:51 pm -

Franks ‘handmade tiles’ was my first ‘clay’ book 8 yrs ago and I still reference it! A brilliant and well presented book with great images. But what I love about video clips are the little details you pick up, for me the way he picked up his slabs to move them is fab! Two little flat wooden sticks, like rulers I guess. Why didnt I think of that :) no finger prints http://www.lyncoleceramics.com
Roy Julien February 18, 2011 at 9:34 pm -

Hi Frank, Excellent work…. Thank you for sharing.
beija February 18, 2011 at 8:59 pm -

this is cool!
Faith February 18, 2011 at 8:25 pm -

So how do you mold, this was so pretty but I really would have liked to see it to it’s finish.
diane February 18, 2011 at 5:18 pm -

Greetings, I have been inspired by your book and now teach the art of handmade tiles to high school students as well as adults. You have inspired many many people! Thank you! I use a slightly different technique of building layes through sculptural techniques rather than recessed/relief layers as demonstrated above. I find that leaves a more organic look and feel for the tile itself. The detail and process of creating a plaster mold outlined in your book has been invaluable.
John February 18, 2011 at 5:13 pm -

Thanks for writing the book, Frank. It’s comprehensive and clear. I’ve made the little tile press, and it works just fine. Regarding the video, the sound is good and the visual part is efficient with no wasted movements. My only complaint would be that every time you attempt to show the paper pattern or the effects of the transfer of design to clay, there is nothing to see. I would suggest using a thin, black marker (like the one made by TUL), and experimenting to find the right angle of view when you hold either the pattern or the cut work up for the video camera to record. John Klure
sa February 18, 2011 at 8:00 am -

Hello Frank ,Your work excellentm . very clean finishing,Hope we can share. I am just learning to love the clay and practice some. I can show u some my work in syasya2005@yahoo.com.
bijan February 18, 2011 at 7:57 am -

hello frank thanks for yor work . please learnto me fornew designe of tile( slouble salt,glazing). tanks
Marilyn February 18, 2011 at 7:27 am -

Hi their! I wouldlike to say that you are the king of handmade tiles! I have your book and love it, it is very well put together and has beautyfull photos. I hope to see more of your wook in book and video form. I to am a custom tile artist, and would love it if I could talk to you in person! maybe you cuold email me! worksofimagination@charter.net