Ceramic 3D Printing: How My Pieces Are Made, From Sketch to Kiln

You might assume a printed piece begins on a computer, but for me everything starts with pencil and paper, the old-fashioned way. Only after the hand sketch does the design move to digital modeling, and from there to code, which a 3D printer translates into real clay, layer by layer. That's how the sharp geometric lines, delicate ridges and micro-textures that catch the light come to life.

After printing, every piece is hand-finished, glazed and fired in my Tel Aviv studio. Each design keeps its precision, yet no two pieces are ever exactly alike. In this post, I'll take you through the whole journey of a piece, from the first pencil line to the moment it comes out of the kiln.

Why Ceramic 3D Printing?

I come from traditional techniques and hold them in deep respect. I spent many years working in slip casting, I studied wheel throwing, and I teach hand-building. That's exactly why I know what each technique can offer, and what printing adds.

Because the printer builds each piece from thin layers of clay, it can create geometry that is very hard to achieve any other way: sharp facets, gradual twists and precise, repeating ridges. The layer lines aren't a flaw I try to hide. They are the signature of the process, giving every surface a subtle rhythm that feels good in the hand.

From Sketch to Kiln: How a Piece Is Made

1. What story do I want to tell?

Every design begins with a question: what should this piece say? When it's a functional object, I start by analyzing the need. For a cup, that means size, weight, grip and how the rim meets your lips. But not all of my work tells a functional story. Some pieces are explorations of cultural, historical or environmental themes, and you'll find those mainly in my portfolio rather than in the shop.

2. Pencil and paper

Once I understand what I'm making, I pick up a pencil and start drawing. My mind thinks best through my hand. That's where I tune the proportions and the overall form, until I'm happy with it.

3. Digital modeling

Only then does the design move to the computer. This is where I refine everything: real dimensions, wall thickness, and forms that suit the printing technology. The model is then translated into a path for the printer to follow.

4. Printing with clay

Soft clay is pushed through a nozzle and laid down layer upon layer, each one bonding to the layer below. It takes precision: too wet and the walls collapse, too dry and the layers won't fuse.

5. Drying and hand-finishing

Fresh clay shrinks as it dries, so every piece dries slowly to keep it from warping or cracking. Then the work returns to the hands: rims and edges are refined and surfaces are cleaned by hand, until the printed form becomes a finished object.

6. Glazing and firing

This is my favorite stage. The pieces go through a first firing, are glazed by hand, and are fired again. The glaze gives each piece its finish and its final look, and as an industrial designer, that matters to me a great deal. On printed pieces, the glaze thins over the ridges and pools in the grooves, so a single color shows up in shifting tones across the surface. I'll go deeper into glazing in a separate post.

Why No Two Pieces Are the Same

Clay is a living material. Small differences in moisture, drying, finishing and, above all, the way the glaze behaves in the kiln all leave their mark. The design gives each piece its structure; the material and the hands give it its character.

Hand-Building, Wheel, Slip Casting or Printing?

Technique	Typical forms	What makes it special
Hand-building	Free, organic, sculptural	Complete freedom of form and a direct, personal touch
Wheel throwing	Round, symmetrical	Fluid forms that show the potter's hand
Slip casting	Precise and repeatable	Consistent reproduction of the same form and smooth surfaces
Ceramic 3D printing	Geometric, faceted, textured	Precise forms and layered textures that are hard to create any other way

I know all of these techniques closely and love each one. Still, when it comes to designing my own pieces, I choose printing again and again. It opens up a much wider range of finishes, patterns and effects, and leads to forms that genuinely intrigue me.

See It in the Collection

You can see this process in every piece in the collection, from everyday cups like the Cone Cup, Tria and Espresso Cup, to serving pieces such as The Carafe and the Sake Set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 3D-printed ceramic real ceramic?

Yes. The printer works with real clay, and every piece is glazed and fired in a kiln, just like traditional pottery. The only difference is how the form is built.

Is it still handmade?

Yes. The form is printed, but the sketching, finishing, glazing and firing are all done by hand in the studio, one piece at a time.

Why can I see lines on the surface?

Those are the printed layers. They're intentional and part of the design, creating the texture and play of light.

Will my piece look exactly like the photo?

Very close, but not identical. Glazing and firing create natural variation, and that's part of what makes each piece special.

Have a question about a piece or the process? I'd love to hear from you.

Explore the Collection

Photography: Amir Glikman