{"id":15538,"date":"2026-09-10T14:17:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T14:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/making-test-tiles\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:03:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:03:44","slug":"making-test-tiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/making-test-tiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Making test tiles"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I<\/strong>t\u2019s a common sight in pottery studios: a wall of colourful test tiles! But even if you don\u2019t use that many different types of clay or glaze, it\u2019s still a good idea to make test tiles. <\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What are test tiles used for?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • They provide a clear overview of your glazes, engobes and underglazes<\/b>, as it can be difficult to tell what a glaze looks like from just a name or number. Making a test tile for every glaze, engobe and underglaze allows you to keep track of them and have an example on hand at all times. <\/li>
  • They also help you to see how a glaze reacts to a type of clay and to the firing process<\/b>, because every glaze and every clay is different. A glaze on one type of clay can look entirely different on another. So, if you are using a new clay or glaze, it is better to make some test tiles first. <\/li>
  • Test new glazes<\/b>. If you\u2019re creating glazes yourself, you can experiment with the recipe and proportions of the ingredients. To chart the results of all this testing, make a test tile each time. This gives you a clear overview of the effect of each change you made to the recipe. <\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Two\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Two\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    Different types of test tiles<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Every potter has their own preferences when it comes to test tiles because there are different ways to make them. <\/p>

    • Tiles that are punched or carved from a slab of clay <\/b>that has been rolled out. Once they\u2019re leather-hard, you can add a hole in case you ever want to hang them up. <\/li>
    • Standing plates<\/b> are made by throwing a ring on the wheel with no bottom and pulling the clay up to create walls. Make sure to add a foot ring. Once the ring is dry, cut out the tiles and smooth the edges with a damp sponge. <\/li>
    • Hollow cylinders<\/b> are made with a hand press.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ceramic\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Glazing test<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      • Carve a groove into the tiles to create texture <\/b>and see how the glaze reacts on an edge.<\/li>
      • Dip your test tile three times<\/b>: first, completely; second, two thirds of the surface; and third, one third. This allows you to see the effect of a thinner or thicker layer. <\/li>
      • The same goes for transparent glazes:<\/b> don’t apply them to the whole tile, but only to half of it. This will show you what the clay or engobe\/underglaze looks like with and without a transparent glaze. <\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Different\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        Numbering and taking notes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Always write everything down! The last thing you want is to have a test tile that you really like but not remember what glaze you used. <\/p>

          • So, while they\u2019re still leather-hard, don\u2019t forget to number your test tiles<\/strong> with a needle or a stamp. Alternatively, use a ceramic pencil after they have been bisque fired. <\/li>
          • Keep a record of which clay <\/strong>you used for every test tile, what type of decoration<\/strong> you tried out, which glaze<\/strong> you used and how you fired it<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>

            One more tip: make test tiles for every type of clay you use, with one bisque-fired tile and one twice-fired tile with no glaze. This will give you an overview of the colour of the different types of clay.<\/strong> <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Testing, testing, testing! It’s unavoidable. For every type of clay that you use, you\u2019ll need to make a test tile. This will help you to chart the shrinkage and colour of the clay, as well as testing your underglazes, engobes and glazes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"How to make ceramic test tiles | Cursist","_seopress_titles_desc":"Testing is essential. For every type of clay you use, it\u2019s best to make test pieces. Read here to find out why it\u2019s worth the effort.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"ceramic test tiles,ceramic test tile,glaze tester,test tile,glaze test tile,glaze test tile","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[214,215],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-basic-info"],"acf":{"call_to_action_tekst":"","call_to_action_foto":null,"call_to_action_link_tekst":"Discover all courses","call_to_action_link":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/pottery-courses\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15538"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33131,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15538\/revisions\/33131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cursist-courses.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}