Comparing Clear stamp images to rubber stamp images

[LuckyGirl]

Ok, I'm a dope and I cannot find the link someone posted in a thread that had a great comparison of acrylic images to those made by rubber stamps.

A friend of mine just bought some acrylic stamps and she is not happy with the image quality. We've stamped on a foam support (like that which comes with CTMH stamps), used dye ink, pigment ink, chalk ink, and what she doesn't like is that the image (in her opinion) is not "crisp" like with her rubber stamps. I was thinking maybe the stamps needed to be "conditioned". Does anyone do this, and, if so, what do you do? Do you condition rubber stamps and acrylic ones or just acrylic ones?

We've found that the acrylic works better with a pigment or hybrid chalk ink- anyone else found the same? Is it because the dye ink is water based and resists the acrylic mount more than a rubber stamp would? Is it b/c there is more color staturation to the pigment/hybrid ink?

Just wondering and seeing if I could help my friend out.
Thanks!

[HeatherHolbrook]

Yes, you should condition your acrylic stamps, try rubbing a clean chalk or pink eraser over them (then clean them like normal) or inking them and stamping several times on a scrap of paper, without reinking. This helps alot with large or solid images.
Rubber stamps should be conditioned differently, you can rub an emory board or light sand paper on them.
I haven't found much difference in inks, all the inks I have work about the same on my acrylics.
HTH!!

[JulieHRR]

Someone recently shared a most excellent link, in another thread, over at Blockhead Rubber Stamps on this very topic!

Here's the link: http://www..com/Techn...ar-stamps.html

HTH!

[JulieHRR]

Here's that other thread on clear stamps, BTW:

Forums at Splitcoaststampers

[LuckyGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieHRR

Someone recently shared a most excellent link, in another thread, over at Blockhead Rubber Stamps on this very topic!

Here's the link: http://www..com/Techn...ar-stamps.html

HTH!

Ahhh, THERE it IS!
Thanks a lot!!

[NaNel]

Could it be you are pressing harder than needed? The acrylics are softer than rubber I think. I have to remember that when switching back and forth. HTH, Nancy

[Suzastampin]

Yes, what Nancy said is so true! Be sure to just light push down on the acrylics. If you're using the same pressure on the acrylics as you do with wood, you're squishing them. One barely needs to press at all with the acrylic.

Suz