Merging Tradition and Technology to Create with Clay Yael Braha

As one of the oldest art forms, ceramic techniques have been passed down through the ages. However, new technologies continually offer exciting opportunities to enhance and evolve the craft.

In this post, an excerpt from the January 2025 issue of Ceramics Monthly, Yael Braha shares a few dynamic ways that digital tools—such as CNC milling, laser cutting, and 3D printing—can be used to enhance traditional ceramic processes. –Jennifer Poellot Harnetty, editor

PS. To learn about Yael's artwork, check out the full article in the January 2025 issue of Ceramics Monthly. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today!

The following are a handful of ways to incorporate digital technologies and fabrication methods into traditional ceramic processes. These are meant to stimulate curiosity and encourage further exploration in one’s own ceramic practice. Most of these tools and equipment can be found in fabrication labs (whether private, nonprofit, or part of public libraries or universities). 

CNC Milling

A CNC milling machine can be used to create a plaster mold. After 3D modeling a form (using any available 3D-modeling software), carve a foam block with a CNC milling machine. After the foam is carved, it is sealed (I use Vaseline) and pour plaster into it. These images (1, 2) show a one-part plaster mold designed for use as a press mold, but this process could be adapted to create a multi-part mold as well.

Laser Cutting

Laser cutters are versatile tools that enable the cutting and engraving of a variety of materials (paper or cardstock, felt, wood, plexiglass, etc.). There are multiple ways to incorporate this tool into the ceramic studio, depending on needs and intents. Here are a handful of ideas:

• Cut custom ribs or shaping tools out of wood board and smooth the edges with sanding paper, if necessary
• Cut templates or stencils out of paper or cardstock
• Engrave seamless patterns on a rubber sheet and glue it onto a rolling pin to make a custom textured roller
• Engrave signature stamps on a rubber sheet to sign your work

Here (3, 4) you can see custom pattern designs that are cut into a wood board, and pressed onto a slab to create an embossed effect.

3D Printing

In the ceramics studio, 3D printers can be used to:

• Make your own molds
• Print 3D stamps
• Print “cookie cutter” templates

Here (5) you can see a cookie cutter example: the object is modeled in 3D software and then 3D printed. You might want to experiment with the thickness of the walls, depending on the type of 3D printer and materials available. Place a layer of plastic wrap over the clay before pressing the “cookie cutter” onto it. This will help to release the cutter from the clay.

Silkscreening

Although silkscreening technology was developed in 1900, it’s worthwhile mentioning ways that it can be used today within a ceramics practice:

Silkscreen on paper. Use a thick underglaze and print your silkscreen image onto thin paper (such as newsprint). Paper prints can be stored to use at a later time; when ready to transfer, lightly spray some water onto it before transferring it onto the clay surface, then use a soft rib to help release the print onto the clay (test which clay hardness works best for you).

Silkscreen on gel printing plates. Print directly on a gel plate, then transfer the gel plate onto the clay surface (when transferring onto a cylindrical surface, like a cup, try rolling the cup across the flat gel plate rather than wrapping the gel plate around the cup).

In this example (6–8) I transformed a custom pattern design into a silkscreen and used it to create underglaze prints on paper.

Laser Transfer

A very accessible way to create some image transfers without necessarily having access to a digital fabrication lab is using a black/white laser photocopy machine. For best results, the source image should be high contrast (black/white without grayscale), and flipped horizontally (especially if it contains any text). To transfer the image, mix a custom ceramic ink composed of a small amount of oxides (any color, but black is recommended to begin with) with water. Lightly paint your custom ink with a brush onto the paper photocopy: notice how the black photocopy toner repels the ink. Wait a few seconds for the ink to dry, then flip the paper and press it onto the clay surface (test which clay hardness works best for you), using a soft rib to help the ink transfer onto the clay.

These images (9, 10) show high-contrast images flipped horizontally and then transferred onto clay.