How to Print Photos on Tile

Select your picture carefully, and use photo editing software to edit, trim and size your photograph to suit your chosen tile.

Print the picture onto the smooth white eggshell side of special Lazertran Waterslide decal paper. Do not use excessive ink. Adjust an Epson inkjet printer to "Plain Paper" and to the highest quality setting available. If you're using an HP inkjet, set the printer to "draft." Other inkjet printers require a little experimentation.

Lay the picture out on a flat surface, and allow it to dry for 30 minutes before touching the surface. Drying will render the ink waterproof and prevent it from running.

Trim the finished print to size if necessary, and soak it in water for a minute or two to allow the transparent decal to separate from the backing. The picture will curl up, but that's normal.

Brush a thin coat of natural turpentine onto a porous tile with a small camel-hair paint brush. Coat the entire surface, and do not allow it to dry. Used correctly, the turpentine will allow the tile to absorb the image permanently into its surface. This is where a little pre-practice comes in handy.

Lift the picture carefully from the water with a pair of rubber-tipped dark room tongs, and lay it over the tile without allowing the transfer to fold over on itself. Flatten the print, and slide it into position while it's still wet.

Roll the picture flat with a small brayer -- a hard porous printer's roller -- and squeeze out any trapped air bubbles while doing so.

Lay the printed tile on one side, and leave it overnight to dry.

Finish the piece by spraying the surface lightly with good quality oil-based polyurethane; matt finish works best. Apply two to three coats, and allow the tile to dry completely between coats. This will render the decal completely transparent and enhance the finished texture to match the original tile perfectly.