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I just recently bought some acrylic stamps and don't know what kind of ink to use. The only ink I have is SU and when I tried using it, it seemed like the image bled. I tried using less ink, but it still did it. Is there a certain type of ink you are supposed to use for acrylic stamps? Sorry if this is a stupid question. Up until this point I have only used red rubber stamps. Thanks for any help!
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Hummm, that's interesting. Usually this is a factor with your paper and not the ink. But it sounds like you are using the same paper and ink that you normally would use with rubber stamps correct? Does your image look spotty? That's usually what happens with clear photo polymer stamps. This can be taken care of by conditioning the stamp.
I don't feel as though I was much help. Someone will chime in and give you some direction. Good luck.
Acrylic stamps don't like to hold ink evenly. If you're using classic ink, your results will be less-than-stellar and look sort of blotchy. It's the stamp, not the ink.
I'd recommend using craft ink with acrylics for the best image.
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I've found that Clearsnap's Vivid line of inkpads is the best for acrylic. I've tried them all: SU, PTI, Distress, and Memento. The last two are great, but still found Vivid to be better.
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I just recently bought some acrylic stamps and don't know what kind of ink to use. The only ink I have is SU and when I tried using it, it seemed like the image bled. I tried using less ink, but it still did it. Is there a certain type of ink you are supposed to use for acrylic stamps? Sorry if this is a stupid question. Up until this point I have only used red rubber stamps. Thanks for any help!
Don't give up hope quite yet...I have always used my SU classic inks successfully with acrylic stamps. Have you tried conditioning your new stamps with an eraser or stamping with some cushion(mouse pad, foam, etc.) underneath your paper? I would give that a try before investing in new ink. If you do need to move forward with new ink, then I recommend Palette or Memento. I hope this is helpful.
Clear stamps can take a bit of extra work to get a good image if they're not good quality. I use momento inks and pigment inks and they seem to work well. I've also used the Marvy markers and they work very good with clear stamps as well. Using an eraser, or the very fine grit side of a nail buffing block works well to condition your stamps to accept ink also will help get better images. Another thing you can try is loading the stamp with versamark ink first and then your other ink.
I use SU! inks with acrylic stamps with no problem. When using a stamp for the first time, I ink it well, stamp it on scrap cardstock then lightly rub it on the cardstock, almost as if it were an eraser. Then it will ink just fine forever. Larger solid stamps may take a bit more rubbing (on my black cotton stampin' pants).
Mary Beth
I have had no problem with most kinds of inks. I particularly like the Memento and Adirondack inks (both by Ranger, I believe) for stamping with acrylics.
Basically pigment or chalk inks are the way to go (however, I do NOT recommend SU craft inks - very blotchy/goopy/oily). I use mostly ColorBox pigment and ColorBox chalk inks with my clear stamps. They work well with the cheap-o stamps like Studio G. In my experience dye inks only work well with the really high-quality clear stamps (like PTI).
Also, like suggested above, use a much lighter hand when stamping and use a piece of fun foam or a mouse pad under your cardstock. Oh, and a white eraser is gentle enough to rub away any manufacturing residues without damaging the stamp. Just rub it until the stamp surface looks slightly cloudy. HTH!
Aside from the other suggestions, when necessary, I actually scuff up my stamps, clear or rubber, with an emory/nail board .. available from most stamping vendors. Sometimes this is the answer.
After that, I do agree with the suggested Memento Tuxedo Black, or Vivid Inks. Also, Ranger Archival Black works well ... but depending on the cardstock, it may require heat drying. ;)
Just keep on trying! You're bound to discover your personal favorites.
Edited to Add: No matter what inks you choose, the pad should be 'juicy' ... I never buy a new pad without also purchasing the ink refill for it. Juicy can make a world of difference.
ColorBox chalk inks work really well. Read somewhere that you should stamp all clear stamps with chalk ink the first time to condition them. I don't know if that's true or not, but I do love my chalk inks for my clear stamps. Another ink that works really well is CTMH ink. It's made for clear stamps and is dye based. SU is the worst for clear inks, at least as far as my experience goes.
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Close to My Heart inks are formulated for clear stamps and I've used them on lots of different clear brands and they work great on them all.
You might also need to "condition" your clear stamps, especially solid images, rub a clean white chalk eraser over them, clean them and you're ready to go, this removes a film that can be on the stamps from the manufacturing process.
After trying different inks, my favorite ones for clear stamps are Close to my Heart and Memento. I also use the PTI pigment inks, but for some reason the pads keep drying out real quickly.
I find it is important to condition the stamp, as the previous posters said, to get an even image.
Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions! I condition my SU stamps, but wasn't sure if you would with acrylic or not. I did use an eraser to condition the stamp that I was trying to use before and it was a lot better! Thank you so much! I really didn't want to have to invest in new inks that wouldn't match the paper and everything else I own, since most of my products are SU!
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If you first load your clear stamps with Versamark, then with your dye ink of choice, it works like a charm! I have clear stamps from several different companies and this always seems to work for me. I also have to be conscious not to have such a heavy hand when stamping in order to have a crisper image.
I would agree that chalk inks work well on clear stamps and I do use them from time to time. HTH
Ok so acrylic stamps going through a process that is similar to the annealing(sp?) process that glass beads go through before they can be used. With acrylics this annealant keeps the ink from adhering to the stamp properly. So you need to condition them first. I have heard of several different ways to do this but the way I like best is get some 400 grit or higher sandpaper and lightly sand the stamp before you use it the first time. Marit at Pezadoodle taught me that one for Studio G stamps but I use it on ALL my acrylic stamps and the results are wonderful. I too use SU ink mostly (except for their black) and with sanding first I have never had any problems.
I use my SU ink with clear and rubber stamps. One thing I did notice is that you have to stamp the clear stamps a few times to get a good image. I use my scrap paper for this. It's almost like they have a coating on them. I hope this isn't to confusing. I'm not real good at explaining things.
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Personally I think it depends on the quality of the acrylic stamp. Some just don't hold ink or work well with any ink. I like CTMH (personal fav) , PTI and Versafine. With some of my good quality stamps (made in USA), SU will work if pad is juicy.
You can also find many SU colors and CTMH colors are close.
Thank you very much for all the explanations provided; as I too have had this problem. I tried an artist eraser as I read on another forum some time back, but will try all the advise ^^above^^. Thank you!
Tim Holtz recommends using Stazon ink FIRST, then cleaning with something OTHER THAN Stazon cleaning solution. Yes, your acrylic stamps will stain, but they are clean and will take all other kinds of inks well after this. I don't mind when my acrylic stamps are stained as long as they have been cleaned with another stamp ink cleaning solution. I clean my stamps with my home-made cleaning solution of distilled water, baby bath, and some glycerin. This works very well, and my acrylics will take on all other inks well after this--especially the Ranger Distress inks I like to work with.
Tim Holtz recommends using Stazon ink FIRST, then cleaning with something OTHER THAN Stazon cleaning solution. Yes, your acrylic stamps will stain, but they are clean and will take all other kinds of inks well after this. I don't mind when my acrylic stamps are stained as long as they have been cleaned with another stamp ink cleaning solution. I clean my stamps with my home-made cleaning solution of distilled water, baby bath, and some glycerin. This works very well, and my acrylics will take on all other inks well after this--especially the Ranger Distress inks I like to work with.
NO, he actually recommends using Ranger's Archival Jet Black which is a different type of ink. StazOn is solvent based and Archival is oil based. Versafine is probably closer to Archival than StazOn.
The only inks I've used with my clear acrylic stamps are CTMH and Memento. I haven't had any problem with them. I have read where some people don't like using clear acrylic stamps with their Stampin' Up inks. They say the ink tends to bead up on the stamp. I don't know if this problem can be fixed with a good "seasoning" or not. Try giving your acrylic stamps a gentle rub with an eraser. Clean them off well and try again to see if you get a more consistent inking.
When buying clear stamps, I always always look on the packaging to see where they are made. If they are made in Taiwan or China - I steer clear of them as they are poor quality and have less chance of stamping well. I stick to clear stamps made in the US which seem to use high quality photopolymer. Also, I find the best ink is Versafine - not just the black but all the other colours too.
Ink for Acrylic Stamps?
