Glossary

• Bisque/Biscuit: Unglazed, but fired ceramics, usually accomplished by a low temperature firing prior to a glaze firing. The term may also be applied to unglazed ceramics fired high (or Stoneware) such as porcelain bisque.
• Brainstorming: A group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas for the solution to a problem
• Casting: Process of forming shapes by pouring liquid clay (slip) into plaster moulds for repetitive production.
• Ceramics: The art and science of forming objects from earth materials containing or combined with silica. A transition takes place in any clay when it is heated to approximately 700 C (1300 f) or higher. At that temperature, chemically attached water molecules are separated from the clay particles. These clay particles are fused together and the ceramic object is permanently changed. Before this transformation if clay objects are re-introduced to water the clay particles are re-dissolved and can be re-constituted into workable clay.
• Ceramic decal transfer: A plastic, cloth paper or ceramic substrate that has a pattern printed on it that can be attached and fired on to a ceramic surface. Traditionally made by hand on silk screens using enamel inks.
• Clay: Clay is formed by the decomposition of igneous rock and other earth materials. When combined with water, clay is plastic enough to be shaped; when subject to red heat or above, it becomes
  dense and rock-like.
• Digital ceramic decal transfer processing: Computer technology enabling ceramic decal transfers to be generated in greater graphic and colour detail at a much faster rate.
• Design brief: A comprehensive written document for a design project developed by a client and/or a designer.
• Earthenware: General term used for pottery fired up to 1150 C. Still slightly porous at this point it then usually undergoes a subsequent glaze firing to become functional.
• Firing: The process of exposing dried clay or glazed ceramics to high heat in order to convert them into durable finished pieces. During firing, the clay and/or glaze goes through a transformation whereby it is fused together into a solid piece.
• Glaze: Glassy melted coating developed by chemicals and heat on a clay, ceramic or metal surface. Glaze provides decoration and colour, prevents some penetration of liquids or acids, and yields a matt or glossy, functional surface.
• Greenware: A stage in the production of any clay body where the ware is going through the drying process necessary before it can be safely fired.
• Installation: The use of sculptural materials and other media that seeks to modify the way we experience a particular space.
• Kiln: The oven in which ceramic pieces are fired to convert them from unstable greenware into durable finished pieces.
• Mold: Usually a plaster form, single or multi-pieced, used to reproduce accurate copies of the original model in clay or plaster. The plaster absorbs water from the slip leaving a coating of clay next to the mold surface taking the shape of the mold.
• Plaster: The mineral gypsum, with the chemical composition of calcium sulfate, used for clay/mold reproduction and as a work surface for manipulating clay.
• Plasticity: Workability; clay is the only mineral having real plasticity, meaning the ability to be formed into any shape, and to get progressively harder in that same shape on being fired to 700 C (1300 F) and above.
• Relief: A relief is a sculptured artwork where a modeled form projects out from a flat background.
• Slip: A suspension of ceramic materials in water: generally refers to casting slip for molds.
• Stoneware: Hard, dense, and durable ceramics fired to a high temperature of 1180 C (2150 F) and less porous than earthenware.
• Template: A stencil, pattern or overlay used to replicate letters, shapes or designs. They are used in a number of art and design disciplines including ceramics.