Ceramic · Vitreous Enamel · Laser Etched
Putting Their Photo On A Memorial
A photograph turns a memorial into a portrait of the person. We offer three proven ways to do it: full colour ceramic images kiln fired at 1000 degrees, vitreous enamel images on stainless steel, and photos laser etched directly into granite or marble. All three are made for Australian weather and can be designed online with your own photo.
Families ask us the same question in different words: will the photo last? Outdoors, in full sun, for decades? The honest answer is that it depends on how the image is made. Printed stickers and cheap overlays fail. The three methods below do not, which is why they are the only ones we offer.
The Three Ways We Put Photos On Memorials
Ceramic Images: Full Colour
A glazed ceramic image of your photo, fired at 1000 degrees so the colour is fused into the glaze itself. Available in full colour, greyscale or sepia, it can be fixed onto the face of any design or stand alone on a grave. You choose the crop, so a loved face from an old group photo can become the portrait. Design it online and see your own photo in place before you order.
Vitreous Enamel: Photos On Steel
A vitreous enamel image carries the photograph on stainless steel, in your choice of 2mm or 6mm thickness and oval or rectangle shape, fixed to the memorial. It suits stainless steel memorials especially well, where the enamel and the polished steel share the same modern character. Call us for current enamel pricing and sizes.
Etched Into The Stone Itself
On black granite and marble we laser etch the photograph directly into the polished face, in fine tones of black and white. There is nothing to peel, lift or fade, because the image is the stone. This is how portraits are done on our laser etched headstones and granite plaques, where two photographs are included in the price.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you want colour, choose ceramic: the kiln fired glaze holds colour outdoors for generations. If the memorial is stainless steel, vitreous enamel matches it naturally. If you want the most permanent image possible and love the classic look, laser etching into black granite cannot peel or fade because there is nothing applied to the surface at all. Plenty of families combine them, for example a laser etched scene across the stone with a full colour ceramic portrait at its centre.
Photo Questions
Will the photo fade outdoors?
Ceramic and enamel images are kiln fired, so the image is fused into the glaze rather than printed on top. Laser etched images are cut into the stone itself. All three are made for full sun and weather.
Can you work from an old or damaged photo?
Usually, yes. We crop and prepare the image so the person is the focus, and we will tell you honestly before making anything if a photo is not sharp enough to reproduce well.
Can a photo be added to an existing memorial?
Ceramic and vitreous enamel images are made as separate pieces and fixed to the memorial, so they can often be added to an existing headstone or plaque. Send us a photo of the memorial and we will confirm.
What colour options are there?
Ceramic images come in full colour, greyscale or sepia. Vitreous enamel carries the photograph on steel, and laser etched images are rendered in tones of black and white.
Their Face, Made To Last
Design online with your own photo, or call (08) 6191 0396 and we will help you choose the right option.