Telling what rubber stamps are seems to be an effortless thing. Actually, a lot of kinds of rubber stamps are known-making the real sense of what rubber stamp is such a complicated thing to do. Despite this, you have to understand that the only common factors that all of the different methods have are that all of the methods use ink, and a rubber surface to produce an image for impression. There are 3 dimensions of rubber stamp varieties: the conventional wooden/plastic handle stamps, the self-inking stamps, and the pre-inked stamps.

The conventional wooden/plastic handle stamps are actually those that you utilize when you press onto an ink pad then on the think you intend to stamp. This conventional style of stamps can be considered the genuine because it is the earliest but is still widely utilized today. Even if it has been known before, the popularity of this never dies down because of two main reasons: the availability of it in wide range of sizes. The usual self-inking and pre-inked stamps are regulated to only to the dimension of the stamp chassis which is about 2”x3” (for self-inking stamps) and 3”x4” (for pre-inked stamps), compared to this conventional stamps the only limit of size it has depends on the size of the ink pad that you use. Another advantage of the conventional stamp is that it can contain compound color inks but you have to provide various color ink pads.

The pre-inked rubber stamp keeps the ink inside its own ink-saturated die, which is the rubber portion of the stamp-engraved and cut for the design. The ink pad turns up and down. The pre-ink rubber stamp has even improved quality of image compared to self-inking stamps and the stamp sizes are quite bigger. The pre-ink stamps are also durable and provides stamp images that last longer and the die used is of better quality that is why many prefer the pre-ink stamps. The pre-inked stamps have wide variety of colors though one stamp can utilize only a single color. Faxed, paid, received, air mail, copy, confidential, etc. are only some of the stock layouts offered by pre-inked stamps hence conventional layouts are also available.

The self-inking rubber stamps contain a particularly designed mount that has en suite ink pad and spring system. This is used to mechanically re-ink the die during stamping. The rubber stamp turns up and down onto the ink pad while impressions are produced. Water-based ink is used in self-inking rubber stamps so it needs to be re-inked regularly compared to pre-inked stamps. Just the same as pre-inked stamps, self-inking stamps also use single color at a time but the ink pad colors may also be changed though this is quite messy. Stock and custom layouts are available for self-inking stamps.

Before being into the rubber stamping industry especially with the use polymers, you have to be aware of the important notes about polymers. By being informed, you can expect great products but of polymers.

The platemaking polymers are widely used in the printing arena but not all photopolymer plates shall create rubber stamps. A 40 durometer polymer is best to use to make a stamping die. The InstaPlate is a polymer intended for making dies for rubber stamps. You can notice that it can be bought in a form of a photo polymer gel contained in a sachet or also termed as polymer in a bag.

Solidification of Polymer – Polymers can become solid under non-synthetic or with the use of a light bulb, although this style is possible it is not recommended because a particular UVA light is required if you want better stamp results. Professional stamp makers prefer polymers such as InstaPlate because it regulates the UVA light at a controlled wavelength just enough to create rubber stamps. Saving for a UV exposure unit and a marketable status polymer like the InstaPlate is a good idea so you can create your own stamps like those that are produced by professionals.

The agility of the rubber stamps should also be noted. Polymer stamps need not structural backing that allows the stamp to innately stick to a mounting block. This may be impressive but you have to be informed that they are inclined to scratching, soiled, and deformation. To solve this, it is better if a permanent backing is provided; EZMount and InstaGrip now offer the solutions needed. InstaGrip is a modern way of attaching rubber stamps to acrylic blocks and it has a movable mounting system that is designed for stamps to be mounted onto acrylic. It is in a simple sense a transparent slim silicone movable mat that attaches either on stamp backing and the acrylic block. Because it is so clear, you can look beyond the stamp and the block where you will impress the image you prefer. Because of this, stamping is indeed worry free.

The light source for this method does not demand costly equipment. Most marketable stamp machines are designed with timers so that the exposure of the polymer is controlled, thus making this process indeed costly. If you are thinking of something as another option, you may consider craft stamp maker that is smaller which ha an external handy countdown timer. The UVA light output from this equipment gives the same characteristics or quality as the sophisticated and larger stamp making systems.