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Help! Bubbles in Inked Image on Solid Photopolymer Stamps
Does anyone have any great tips for this problem?
Of late, I am not getting a clear stamped image, such as a solid flower, etc. it is all bubbly. I have gotten smooth images in the past, but it seems to be happening with a number of stamp pads. I’ve searched on YouTube for answers...such as too juicy a pad, (I’ve used the same pad countless times), tried different ‘seasoning’ methods, pulled out the Stamparatus, hmmm.....tried different cleaning method. I usually rub stamps over a damp microfiber cloth. I seem to be missing something....
Are they new stamps? Usually I have to run an eraser over new photopolymer stamps, especially solid stamps to remove any factory residue from the stamps. What kind of ink are you using? I noticed that for example distress inks don't work well with solid stamps but the new distress oxides work much better and Versafine Clair inks work extremely well.
Would an increase of humidity have affected the ink pads you are using?
Are they new stamps? Usually I have to run an eraser over new photopolymer stamps, especially solid stamps to remove any factory residue from the stamps. What kind of ink are you using? I noticed that for example distress inks don't work well with solid stamps but the new distress oxides work much better and Versafine Clair inks work extremely well.
Would an increase of humidity have affected the ink pads you are using?
I'm using Stampin' Up! inks. Never tried the eraser trick before. I was wondering about the humidity, because we have had a lot of that around here this spring. Thanks!
The eraser trick does seem to always work for me. I think there is some sort of oily residue on new stamps and that will make the ink bubble. Hope it will work for you.
If the eraser trick doesn't work, try a nail buffer. It roughs up the surface just a tiny bit to provide "tooth" for the ink to hang onto. I've even used an emery board on some really stubborn photopolymer. I know a lot of you are probably gasping and choking right now, but they're MY stamps and I have to make them work FOR ME, lol...
Definitely agree with Ellibelle, some inks- the 'wetter ' ones like DI- don't work well with Photopolymer stamps. Oxides, Clairs, chalk inks & Colorbox all do well. As do Archival and Memento.
I think if you stick to pigment inks on solid designed stamps, you'll have much better success. Another suggestion from someone long ago, when using clear polymer stamps, ink with archival ink the first time and let it dry. Then stamp with your other inks.
I find that SU inks don't work well with solid image clear stamps. If you ink your stamp with VersaMark ink first, and then the SU ink, that might do the trick. I'm not sure what it will do to your inkpads, but I don't think it will harm them.
Using VersaMark definitely won't harm ink pads. In fact, Stampin' Up! suggests stamping into VM and then colored ink so that you can emboss in any color with clear powder.
Using VersaMark definitely won't harm ink pads. In fact, Stampin' Up! suggests stamping into VM and then colored ink so that you can emboss in any color with clear powder.
I wonder why the fridge trick worked?
Strangely enough this makes me think of my late sis in law, who started me on SU in the early 90’s. She kept ALL of her SU Inks on the refrigerator because that was apparently what the experts at the time were saying to do with dye Inks. I always thought it was a weird thing to do, but who knows?
Perhaps the cooler temps keeps the ink more concentrated at the surface of the pad? I’m speculating...perhaps someone with a chemistry background could weigh in on this discussion.
It could be as simple as cooler temps making it thicker/closer to a "solid" than higher temps, so the ink holds together better to do its thing...? I have no idea, really, just throwing out another theory... Still, fascinating that it works!
I'd guess this is all to do with how much water is involved in the 'recipe' for a particular ink. I saw a Jennifer McGuire video the other day, can't remember which one, but I recall her saying an inkpad with a high water content in the ink worked best for it. Oh, I remember now, it was about stamping a design, then flicking it with water to give a watercolour effect. But she said some inks have more water in the recipe than others, so I'd think the higher water content ones are the type that don't work so well on photopolymer.
Help! Bubbles in Inked Image on Solid Photopolymer Stamps
