Dye Or Pigment? Which is better for clear stamps? *merged*
 

Has anyone used SU pigment ink with clear stamps? Just wondering if it will cling better to the acrylic. Which is the better ink to use?

Pigment ink gives better coverage, and won't bead up on clear acrylic stamps the way dye inks will. I personally use both kinds of ink with my clear stamps and just change my expectations of the resulting look. If you like how dye inks stamp with acrylic stamps, go for it!

does pigment ink then make a more crisp image? Thanks!

Pigment ink in general makes a crisper image because it is thicker and sits on the page. Dye ink is thinner and absorbs into the paper.

Also, pigment ink will not stain your stamps. Not sure if that is a problem for you or not.

AzShann, thanks for the tip on that. Its nice to know that pigment ink will wipe off of the clear stamps as opposed to dying them like the traditional ink does.:)

Trying to get good image with clear stamps
 

Here is the scenario, new style Classic ink pad in Basic Black and clear stamps. I just don't get a solid image. Do I need to reink so the pad is squishier or should I try the craft style pad instead. I don't necessarily think it is the stamp, I have tried the same thing with SU stamps and it happens sometimes too.

any tips????

I have some CTMH acrylic stamps. It comes with a piece of foam in the package thats about the size of the envelope the stamps come in. I find if I put that underneath my paper when I stamp my images come out alot better. HTH! (its pretty much the same thing that you get with your coluzzle that foam stuff)

Good tip...I'm going to try that too with my clear stamps.

Hi!

The tip about using the foam like material that comes with your My Acrylix stamp set is exactly right...that's what it is for.

Also, when you use a stamp set for the first time, you need to season it. Sometimes there is residue left from the manufacturing of the stamp. To get this off, just ink up your new stamp, then stamp it on a scrap piece of paper. When you stamp down twist the stamp around, lift and stamp again, twisting again. Do this until the ink is off the stamp. Now try stamping! It should give you a much clearer image.

Hope this helps!

I haven't had good luck with great impressions using standard dye inks on clear polymer stamps. It just beads up on the surface of the polymer.

I seem to get best results if I use Colorbox Fluid Chalk inks (Cat's Eye, Petal Point or Paintbox format--not the mini or full-size pads), or pigment inks.

Palette Hybrid Inks (combo of pigment/dye) also work pretty well with them, too.

HTH,

I get great results with my clear stamps when I use a freshly inked Brilliance, Versacraft or Colorbox pigment ink pad.
I have also used Versafine black ink with very detailed clear stamps.
I do season new stamps by inking them and stamping on scrap paper a few times to get the chemicals off the acrylic.
(When I use a quality pigment ink and SU smooth white cardstock, I haven't had to use a cushion to get a nice image. )
HTH

Deloris

thank you so much for all of the tips. I need to look through what I have, I'm pretty sure the only black that I have is the SU dye ink so off to InkIt I go. I have the Colorbox chalk inks in other colors, but it seems that I'm always after black.

okay just ran to get my stamps and an ink pad, the Chalk ink worked perfectly, now just to go out and get me some black.

I got a great tip from someone that always does the trick with new SU! rubber and acrylics. Rub over the surface with a white eraser. I use the one from the set of SU! chalks. This cleans all the residue off very quickly!

Is there a special ink for clear stamps?
 

i am so partial to stampin up stamps and inks and every once in awhile i will buy other stamps. i bought my first set of the clear clingy stamps, ( they were just too cute to pass up) i have never used them before so was excited, but it seems like my SU ink doesnt work well with them. Is there a special ink for them, Am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your input :)

No special ink..... you might want to try cleaning the stamps first. If that doesn't help, take a white eraser and rub over the surface of the stamp, clean it and then try again.

If that doesn't work, contact the manufacturer.

Hi! I have a lot of customers who use SU ink on their Close To My Heart Acrylix Stamps. They have never mentioned a problem. You can use the little foam like sheet you get with your stamp set to help. Place it under the cs you are stamping on...then stamp. Sometimes this helps. As mentioned before all stamps need to be seasoned before their first use. To do this...just ink it us, then stamp on scrap paper and twist your stamp. Clean and stamp away. This will get any residue left from manufacturing.

I hope this helps!

A lot of times, whether it's clear stamps or rubber, the stamp needs to be "conditioned" before its first use. Clean it really well, or stamp and stamp off repeatedly without cleaning in between several times, and then clean. Then you should be able to use whatever ink you normally would. (Although I'm not sure about solvent inks like Staz-On.)

I have several sets of clear stamps from different manufacturers and the inks I find best are Brilliance Pigment Ink and VersaMagic Chalk. The SU classic ink seems to bead up on the surface. Also make sure you are using some kind of cushion under your paper it seems to help.

I use Fluid Chalk ink the most... the cat's eyes... for a few reasons.
1. I take the ink pad to the stamp to make sure to get an even coverage.
2. the wetter ink tends to not pill up on the clear stamps.

FYI, most clear stamps cannot be used with Stazon... that particular ink will damage them because they are alcohol based.
HTH

Thanks for all your help. that is what was happening about the beading, i will try the pigment one and if f that doenst work then this was my first and my last clear set. Thanks for the info

Vickey,
Don't give up on them. The best tip given was to rub an eraser over them before you use them the first time. If you've already used the, you can still do it. This removes the manufacturing residue. I do it with all of my stamps before I use them and have never had an issue.
Another tip, do not press hard on them like you do a wood mount. You only need a light touch...otherwise you squish the image and it won't be crisp. When I say light...I mean really light<G> Myself, I usually just lay the stamp on the paper and then rub my hand over the back of the block. No need to really push at all.

Suz
http://www.suzastampin.com

Yup, you need to use an eraser and erase them or take a fine grade sand paper and gently sand the surface, then you will be able to use any ink.

I have several sets and find that the Fluid Chalk inks do seem to work the best. I've had decent success with Palette Hybrid inks, too, and even Distress inks, depending on how "solid" the image is.

I think most people don't know you really need to "season" clear stamps before using them, the eraser method mentioned above is my favorite way. I've used lots and lots and lots of different brands and types of ink on my clear stamps, and I've never had a problem, the only thing is you might notice staining more from some brands but they can be cleaned off with a Magic Eraser.
Have fun with your clear stamps!!

Yep, they are acrylic - not rubber - and need to be conditioned. Any dye-based ink will have the same beading effect.

Help with Clear Stamps
 

This weekend I purchased a few clear stamp sets. As I'm playing around with them I've found that the bold stamps don't stamp well. They don't coat as nicely as regular bold stamps. The line stamps work great! What am I doing wrong? Any advice would be helpful!

try stamping off on scrap paper a bunch of times. some come with a coating on them and they just need to be "worked" a bit to start coming out nice.

Try placing a thin piece of foam under your project (CTMH provides a foam piece with each stamp set) it will provide a little 'give' so that you can get a clearer image

I1 2nd that idea!!!

I�ve also had problems with the clear stamps not stamping a clear image, sometimes I would get a bubble in the center� that completely turned me away from clear stamps. :(

Then my CTMH demo mentioned that I should use the foam piece, since then I haven�t had any problems ;)

I use an old mousepad. Seems to do the same trick.

Thanks for sharing - I have a few sets and would never have thought of placing foam under my paper.

I've been told clean the surface of CTMH clear stamps with a white eraser (like the one in the SU! Pastels Chalk set) to help produce a better image :)

Also try "conditioning" the stamps. I use a clean white eraser and rub it over the stamp before using it, then clean it and it's ready to go. You only have to do this once when you first get the stamps. The process of making acrylic stamps can leave a "film" on them and this removes it.
HTH

Try a pigment ink like SU's craft ink or Brilliance or Colorbox Fluid Chalk and see if that helps. I have a couple sets that really only work with those ink and not with SU's dye inks.

Thanks..problem solved!

farget..you were given several answers...which one did you find worked for you? I too have had this problem and would like to know what you did. I did try the easer thing and it did help some. Thanks.

I have several different brands of acrylic stamps, some expensive, some inexpensive.

I have found no difference in the quality of the images they stamp - but it does make a great difference what kind of ink you use.

I have had the best luck overall with pigment inks: Colorbox petal point inks, and Cats Eye ink.

The dye inks just seem to bead up on the stamps and don't work well at all.