Here are some tips I have found on the internet on how to bake translucent clay, hope this helps!
Most all translucents will darken more easily than the regular colors so while baking do not bake too long or use too high a temp when using translucents or clay tinted with translucents.
I would recommend that you not bake your translucent directly on a tile or a heat reflective surface.
Translucent clay browns or yellows very easily in the oven..so if the clay is made even hotter by resting on a tile or baking sheet, this can cause it to go brown even quicker.
At higher elevations all clays must be baked a little hotter and longer just like foods...most clayers at elevations over 3500 ft. recommend baking translucents at around 300 or just a bit lower.
Using a convection oven may help though since it keeps the temp really even I like to bake in a covered container when working with light colors or translucents.
Cornstarch is wonderful for keeping your translucent from browning or yellowing since it totally protects it from the heat of the oven (insulation).
If my translucent item needs to be baked on a flat surface, lay 3-4 paper towels on a tile then lay the clay item on top of the paper towels then scoop up a spoonful of cornstarch and gently sprinkle it over the item until it is totally covered (at least 1/2 inch thick). If the translucent is not clear enough after baking put it back in the oven for about 5 min (without the cornstarch) this will clear up the translucent if it needs it without browning it.
If items are dimensional like beads, put them in a baking pan which is always kept filled with cornstarch, then cover with cornstarch and bake as above.
Any bubbles created in baking will rise to the back of the piece where they will not show if you bake your pieces face down... heat rises and causes air bubbles to rise to the surface.
Most all translucents will darken more easily than the regular colors so while baking do not bake too long or use too high a temp when using translucents or clay tinted with translucents.
I would recommend that you not bake your translucent directly on a tile or a heat reflective surface.
Translucent clay browns or yellows very easily in the oven..so if the clay is made even hotter by resting on a tile or baking sheet, this can cause it to go brown even quicker.
At higher elevations all clays must be baked a little hotter and longer just like foods...most clayers at elevations over 3500 ft. recommend baking translucents at around 300 or just a bit lower.
Using a convection oven may help though since it keeps the temp really even I like to bake in a covered container when working with light colors or translucents.
Cornstarch is wonderful for keeping your translucent from browning or yellowing since it totally protects it from the heat of the oven (insulation).
If my translucent item needs to be baked on a flat surface, lay 3-4 paper towels on a tile then lay the clay item on top of the paper towels then scoop up a spoonful of cornstarch and gently sprinkle it over the item until it is totally covered (at least 1/2 inch thick). If the translucent is not clear enough after baking put it back in the oven for about 5 min (without the cornstarch) this will clear up the translucent if it needs it without browning it.
If items are dimensional like beads, put them in a baking pan which is always kept filled with cornstarch, then cover with cornstarch and bake as above.
Any bubbles created in baking will rise to the back of the piece where they will not show if you bake your pieces face down... heat rises and causes air bubbles to rise to the surface.
Guide created: 01/03/07 (updated 08/13/08)
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