Questions about our tiles and murals

FAQ

What is the difference between Tile Murals?
Most of the murals and custom tile you will find being sold are Sublimated. A coating of a polyester material - basically clear
coat automotive paint - is applied to tile. The image is then printed onto a sheet of special paper using sublimation dye. Then
the image is heat pressed onto the tile at about 40 degrees. The coloring and clarity of the image is amazing, however there
is a huge drawback, the finished tile is neither scratch or UV resistant. Some of the people selling sublimated tiles will tell
you that they put a UV resistant coating on the tile which solves this problem. The coating does help slightly but does not
make the sublimated tile a long term product. Our process is totally different. We begin with a speciallized printer using
ground minerals. Remember painting on ceramics in school? These are basically the same minerals but made into a
powdered toner. Using the print, we make a decal which goes onto the tile. Then we kiln fire the tile to 1550 degrees resulting
a permanent image which is UV proof and extremely scratch resistant - we use keys or screwdrivers on our tile as a
demonstration of how permanent our images are, ask a sublimation company to try that! Why would you buy and install a
mural in your home knowing that it is you can not scrub it to clean, someone can accidently scratch it, and that it WILL fade
over time. Shouldn't your tile be as permanent as your home. If you would like a sample of our tile, please use the contact
form on the Contact Us page to request one. We will even send you a key so you can try to scratch it!

How do I order tile?
Call or email us and we will walk you through the process. You will need to decide the following:

Size of mural - this depends on the area you will be installing the mural as well as the size of tile you choose. For example, if
you decide on 4 inch tile, the overall size must be divisible by 4, i.e. 16", 24", 32", etc.

Size of tile - standard sizes of tile we image on are 4"x4", 6"x6", 8"x8" and 10"x10". Rectangular tiles such as 8"x10" are
available as special orders.

Finish of tile - do you want a matte or glossy finish? We recommend glossy as photos are much more brilliant.

Tile spacing - What width do you want the grout lines between the tiles? This is based on your preference as well as the tile
which will be surrounding the mural.

How are the photo murals created?
We use a patented Ceramic Toner technology to image the photo onto the tile. It is then fired to over 1500° F resulting in a
permanent image.
Click here to see more about our process.

What photos can be used?
Nearly any high resolution photo or graphic can be used. Many of our clients use either their own photos or buy photos from
online site such as www.istockphoto.com or www.fotolia.com . There are literally millions of photos available for only a few
dollars each.

Photo requirements
For murals up to 30"high x 48" wide, the minimum size photo file is 3"x5" at 300 dpi. If you have questions about whether you
photo will work please email or call us.

How do we install the mural?
When you receive the mural, each tile will be labeled with its position. I.e. B-5 is row B, column 5. A "map" showing the
positioning of all of the tiles is also included. The tiles are laid using thinset just as any tile would be.

What if a tile is broken during shipping or installation?
We archive the digital file for your mural. This allows us to reproduce any needed tile.

What is the life of the tile?
Our tile has the same lifespan as any other tile

How do I care for my tile mural?
Care is the same as any other wall tile. Normal kitchen and bathroom cleaners are fine. Abrasive cleaners such as pumice,
Ajax, etc are not recommended

Do I have to provide the tile?
Under nearly all circumstances we will provide the tile to be imaged. Please call us for details about using your tile.

What size tiles are available?
We can digitally image any photo on 4"x4", 6"x6", 8"x8" or 10"x10" tile. We can laser on any size tile or stone up to 18"x24".