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I started stamping again and need a few suggestions about trying to get a crisp image with solid-image stamps. For example, I attached one of my v-day cards where some of the ink is missing (purple elephant). Is it my technique, paper, ink, etc? I used Georgia Pacific white (no ww on hand). My stamp pads may be a bit dry as the twins have used them for stacking and playing store but I used the Ink refresher by Inkssesntials to try and revive them. Am in the process of getting reinkers for pads that aren't retired. I do stamp the pad on the stamp and huff, but with various results. I think I am out of practice! Thanks for any tips.
Cherie
solid images can be difficult. To tell you the truth, i have the best luck when I use pigment ink rather than dye ink. However, a couple of things I do that work sometimes....
use an eraser on the rubber of the stamp to help remove any residue that may be on it, then clean it really well with stamp cleaner. Some people even use sand paper on the image to "ruff" it up a bit to hold the ink better.
If I don't have pygment ink in the color I want, I will sometimes cover the stamp with clear versamark in first, then the colored dye ink.
It does help to make sure the pad is nice and juicy too, so re-inking is a good idea. And although I know it can be hard on the pads, I sometimes slide the stamp back and forth on the pad to get it well covered, then tap it a couple times for good measure.
I hope you find something that works well for you - good luck!
Do you have any pigment ink pads? If so, try inking the stamp with pigment ink and stamp it. Clean the stamp with stamp cleaner. Then try stamping with your dye ink again. Sometimes there is manufacturing residue on stamps that interfer with uniform coverage with dye ink. I don't know why using pigment ink helps clean the stamp. I've found the pigment ink trick works better than stamp cleaner alone, no matter what type of cleaner I've used. Hope this helps.
Dea
The tips regarding getting the ink to cover better are true. The versamark tip has worked well for me in the past. I have almost the full collection of SU dye ink ( I used to be a demo ) so I often want to use a specific color that I only have in dye ink not pigment.
The paper does matter. I have gotten the best results with solid images using SU Whisper White or Very Vanilla. They are ultra smooth and seem to produce the most solid, "solid" image. Any paper with a little texture or tooth will not give you as nice a result. Even using SU's Naturals Ivory or Naturals White gives me a splotchy result. If you don't have and don't want to buy SU's ultra smooth paper just look around for one that feels equally smooth and silky. I have some Georgia Pacific but don't like the quality and end up using it for "scratch" paper; while I'm trying to figure out a design layout or something.
I agree with the comments from others that pigment inks or perhaps even re-inking your pads might help. That being said, I only have the classic inks and have been successful with stamping solid images. One tip that I learned (here on SCS, I think) is to stamp with foam (think fun foam or something similar) underneath your paper. I have found this method to be especially helpful when using clear acrylic stamps. Crossing my fingers that you find a solution that works for you.
I've had issues with solid images too. For those I use Versafine Onyx black. The other suggestion is embossing it in black. If I miss a spot, I use a fantastix, dip in in versamark and touch up the spots, then emboss again. Works like a charm.
My top tip for solid images is to use the Stamp-a-ma-Jig or other positioner, and if necessary stamp twice, re-inking the stamp in between. Pigment inks, as has been said, are definitely better, but if I want a really saturated impression I sometimes do the double-stamping even with pigment inks.
Whether they are rubber or acrylic stamps makes a difference too. Acrylic/photoplymer stamps seem to do best with chalk inks, or Versafine. I did a try-out of various inks on solid image polymer stamps on my blog HERE .This used Neenah card by the way.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I do not have any pigment ink (all dried out). I do have a stamp-a-ma-jig, so I could try the double stamping next time. I like that idea. I thought the paper mattered, too. I had to make about 40 valentines, so did not want to waste my WW cardstock (down to about 3 sheets have to get more) but I thought the Georgia Pacific was better than the Michael's or HL brand CS- did not stamp well at all.
Cherie
Oh goodness, this used to plague me all the time. It got to the point where I stopped buying solid images.
I did the versamark technique. I tried huffing. I tried sanding. I tried different paper.
I finally found two methods that work. Both have already been mentioned.
First, use a Stamp-a-ma-jig and stamp multiple times. This doesn't work with every image, but when it works, it works perfectly.
Second, the new SU foam pads seem to cover a lot better than the old pads. This card, using Dasher, is proof. I could never get that clean of an image of Dasher using the old pads.
__________________ aka Sue. Or Sue-odd.
No blog for me. My gallery chronicles my card-making successes and mishaps.
I had that problem too until I read this on OnyxXpressions, who has a selection of large stamps on their website. Solid-Stamps
I bought a several colored "stacks" of chalk ink at Michael's. If I'm using a large stamp in a card design I coordinate my colors around one of the colored chalk inks.
Whether they are rubber or acrylic stamps makes a difference too. Acrylic/photoplymer stamps seem to do best with chalk inks, or Versafine. I did a try-out of various inks on solid image polymer stamps on my blog HERE .This used Neenah card by the way.
Thanks for sharing your experiment. Good info.
Dea
The other suggestion is embossing it in black. If I miss a spot, I use a fantastix, dip in in versamark and touch up the spots, then emboss again. Works like a charm.
Similar to this, when I'm using dye ink, I use a blender pen and some of the surrounding ink (or additional ink) to fill in any blank/lighter spots on my stamped image. I picked this up from a blogger and it works great with my solid stamps!
I love the new firm foam Stampin' Up! ink pads. My solid images stamp so nicely with them. Using SU card stock will make a big difference when stamping solid images. Someone mentioned above about the sanding block you can use if needed.
Another tip that helps if you are limited to resources on hand is to put a stiff foam pad under your stamping paper so that the paper has a little give to it as you are applying the ink covered stamp. This will help is there are any uneven areas on the surface of the stamp. I use my piercing mat.
I have way more trouble with my solid stamps in the winter months. This may sound bizarre, but I huff my ink pad really well and then I huff my SU stamp really well to warm it up and add extra moisture. Then I twist the stamp back and forth a couple times on the pad, tap twice, and stamp. I get much better results. It has turned into quite a ritual. This is on the old style pad. I haven't used the new foam pads much and have not been too impressed with the difference so far.
I have way more trouble with my solid stamps in the winter months. This may sound bizarre, but I huff my ink pad really well and then I huff my SU stamp really well to warm it up and add extra moisture. Then I twist the stamp back and forth a couple times on the pad, tap twice, and stamp. I get much better results. It has turned into quite a ritual. This is on the old style pad. I haven't used the new foam pads much and have not been too impressed with the difference so far.
Doesn't sound bizarre at all - the stamp is cold and hard so it doesn't leave a good impression. That's why it's important to store stamps away from the sun in closed containers. Sun and air dry out the stamps and then you have a hard piece of rubber that just won't ink up no matter what pad you use.
I always just shake my head when I see stampers displaying their stamps just sitting on a shelf. Unless they are using all those stamps on a regular basis, at some time the stamp will dry out.
I agree the new SU! ink pads are great for solid images. I'd always had trouble before. I also just dab a Fantastix in areas that aren't as good. I've found just tap, tap, tapping with it works better. If you swipe it, you'll usually see lines.
Two things that give me great results are: #1 - stamping with your card stock on a computer mouse pad - that "gives" just a little more, so the image transfer is often better. #2 Ink up your stamp well, lay it down (image facing up), and put your card stock to the stamp - this works really well if you're using larger images. It may not be the best for small images, as it's fairly easy to accidentally shift your card stock, but it's worth a try!
Thank you all for the suggestions! Here's what helped- definitely the paper, ink, surface and practice. Just got some WW and compared to the Georgia Pacific and WW was much more crisp. Got a new Real Red ink pad- awesome, hardly any missed spots. Put down a magazine for cushion. Have been practicing and realized if you have the right equipment, you're more apt to succeed in the look you're going for. Thanks again!
Suggestions for stamping solid images
