Everyone loves the old-world feeling of travertine or the natural look of hand-scraped hardwood, but these eye-catching materials can be pricey and they aren’t free of maintenance. The tile manufacturing industry has taken these details into consideration and—with the help of digital printing technology—has created unique designs that duplicate rare stone and rich hardwood.
Heather H. Johnson, Director of Marketing at Hamilton Parker Company, says the 3-D process, which is known as High Definition Porcelain or HDP, is a process that gives you a realistic image of natural stone, slate, fabric or wood on tile.
“This process uses digital printing technology, which is made up of tiny pixels, to give accuracy in the detail of the pattern on the tile. The digital technology uses injectors to print, which helps with pattern repetition. “
With this new technology, manufacturers can now take the pattern to the edge of the tile, where as with the older silk screen method, the pattern would stop slightly before the edge of the tile. Johnson says this new porcelain tile is a great low maintenance, durable alternative to real hardwood, marble or travertine. “With 3-D digital printing technology, you can achieve the look of natural products that are indistinguishable from a real natural stone with no sealing required.”