Ceramic Pigments

Understanding Ceramic Pigments

The pigment’s stability depends on its chemical composition. For best results, test a small batch at your chosen firing temperature and atmosphere to ensure accurate colour and performance with your material.

Terrachrom’s Ceramic Pigments are available in two types, based on their chemical composition and temperature stability:

1. Inclusion Pigments (Red, Orange & Violet)
These are commercially prepared, high-temperature pigments formulated with a zirconium-silicate (Zr–Si) coating that encapsulates the colorant. This treatment ensures excellent stability up to 1300 °C without colour alteration.

2. Spinel Pigments (Yellow, Green, Blue & Turquoise)
These pigments are made from metallic oxides that form a spinel crystal structure, commonly used for colouring glazes. They retain their hue through firings up to 1000 °C.

Using Ceramic Pigments

For Body Stains

Mix the pigment thoroughly with dry clay or porcelain before shaping and firing. This ensures the color is evenly distributed throughout the ceramic body.

For Surface Decoration

Combine the pigment with water and a binder, such as a frit or a small amount of clay, to prevent the colour from crawling.

For Coloured Slips

Dissolve clay in water to create a slip, then add and mix the pigment until fully incorporated.

Firing

During firing, the pigments bond with the ceramic material, locking in the colour and ensuring it remains stable and vibrant.

*Note: Pigments from the Ochres, Natural Earths & Oxides collections can be used for ceramics, but colour may change after firing. For bright, stable colours at high temperatures, it is recommended to use pigments specifically manufactured for ceramic applications. Other pigments, such as cobalt (blue), iron (brown/red), or opacifiers (for opaque glazes), may also be used, though some colour variation can occur during firing.

Our small packets of pigments are sold by volume. The values indicated on the labels  are volume, not weight.