Why do you work with both homeowners and design professionals?

Tile murals for homeowners, architects, and designers are often the same project types at different scales. We take into account each project's specific requirements and provide expert guidance to deliver the right materials and service — whether it's a single kitchen backsplash or a large architectural installation.

What's the difference between your indoor and outdoor tile processes?

Interior murals typically use a glazed, lower-temperature process suited to backsplashes and bathrooms — bleach-safe and washable, but not intended for prolonged direct sun exposure. Outdoor and high-exposure installations use a kiln-fired process engineered for UV stability and long-term weather resistance. Kiln-fired tile is also used indoors for active surfaces like countertops, or in high-traffic or vandalism-prone settings such as schools and public libraries, where added durability matters most.

How does the process work, from image to finished installation?

We start with your artwork, photo, or design concept, followed by proofs and technical coordination for larger projects. Once approved, tiles are fabricated and shipped with an installation guide, or coordinated directly with your installer or design team.

Do you handle small residential projects as well as large commercial installations?

Yes — from a single kitchen backsplash to large-scale hospitality and public art installations. Project size doesn't change our attention to image quality or durability; it changes lead time and coordination needs.

Custom Waterjet-Cut Tile Medallions, Inlays & Seals

Waterjet cutting provides complex custom shaped tiles for hospitality, residential, and commercial needs. We have design studio and interior decorator experience, assisting with graphics project specifications.
Graphic tile designs have extremely high traffic durability: useful for outdoor pavement and train platforms.

Graphic images serve to engage the eye and interest in shopping malls, restaurants, and other public venues. We can reproduce your graphics on tiles of various types. Consult with us for the best product for your purposes.

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting technology makes it possible to create intricate, patterned designs. Interior design studio clients have specified Custom Tiles’ products for the best in unique graphics on colorful tile. We provide detailed specs and shop drawings. Waterjet cutting porcelain floor tile requires 2D vector files, with the .DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) being the universal industry standard. You can also use formats like .DWG, .AI, or .EPS. These vector files provide the precise paths (lines and arcs) the machine’s cutting head needs to follow.

Custom Graphics Printed on Tile: Send us your artwork (photo, scanned art, logos, wayfinding text). You may choose wall tile or floor tile, and a choice or ceramic, glass, or porcelain tile. We produce for indoor and outdoor tile use and offer pre-production proof tiles for approval. You are invited to browse our portfolio.

Ceramic Printing Technology

Advances in ceramic tile printing have nearly closed the gap on ‘making all things possible’ for custom tile decoration.

CMYK dry pigment printing is still the benchmark for color strength, saturation, and substrate hiding-power. The gamut of inorganic pigments which have been incorporated in this approach has increased. For example, the magenta ‘slot’ can be filled with red-magenta or red in the printer reservoir. The ideal four-color selection (CMYK, CR-MYK or CRYK) will be determined by the artwork. There are also newly minted white, blue, and orange pigments run as single-color options.

Four colors were the limit as well for inkjet printers. Modern configurations feature as many as ten color banks. This allows a much wider color gamut. Mechanical improvements include ink recirculation and automatic head cleaning to avoid pigment settling and head clogging. The higher equipment cost is offset by lower maintenance costs and increased production. Multi-head printers can apply clear coats for gloss control and anti-slip properties.

Tile Cost & Project Requirements

Due to the level of technology involved, clients depend on us for project options. It may not be obvious what the trade-offs may be. Color matching, color strength, resulting sheen, durability, weather/moisture exposure, production scheduling, and costs all factor into the decision for the decoration method and substrate to be used. For example, to simply say “ceramic” does not express the specific properties of the tile Group (I, II, or III) or moisture absorption (E value), or shaping (pressed, extruded, or ‘other’).

We evaluate the project environment and recommend the appropriate tile type and print technology.