Improved Laser Printing Equipment for Ceramics (ILPEC) (2017-2018)

Funding: UK Research Council EC Grants: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) (AH/M004333/1- £144,597 )

Principal Investigator: Professor Martin Smith

Co-Investigator: Rod Bamford, Head of Programme, Ceramics and Glass

Co-Investigator: Dr Peter Oakley, Senior Tutor

Research Fellow: Dr Steve Brown

David Hamilton: Steering group adviser: John Fewster FCSD

Digitally printed graphics have become ubiquitous across the global domestic and business landscape, with recent applications transforming surface design in wallpapers, textiles, and ceramic tiles. The paradigm shift now looks set to be repeated across the ceramic tableware sector. The research project, Extending the Potential for the Digitally Printed Ceramic Surface built on earlier work in ‘Improved Laser Printing Equipment for Ceramics’ (ILPEC ) and aimed to extend the aesthetic language of digital printed ceramic surfaces, through a working partnership with Royal Crown Derby, Santorus and Digital Ceramic Systems worked to resolve barriers associated with adopting digital ceramic print in the manufacturing environment.

The project developed and published new specifications for print machine design, reprographic processes, print and colour management methods to improve Digital laser transfer printing for the Ceramic Industry, improving technical control of characteristics underpinning an emerging visual and tactile ‘digital’ language for ceramic surfaces.

https://gtr.ukri.org/person/AB543EDB-62D4-44B9-A038-5097448CF68B