Probelms with SU ink
 

I had never tried SU inks before and they had these great clearance prices. Affordable enough for me to try them out. The problem Ive been having is that when I ink up a stamp (rubber or acrylic) the ink pools into little spots and makes a blotchy image. I have tried several stamps and all my inks. All them have gotten the same results. Does anyone have a suggestion about what could be the problem? Is just operator error?

What kind of ink do you normally use? These are dye inks so that they are very low in viscosity as all dye inks should be. I think most people tend to use a tap-tap-tap method to ink the stamps. Many times acrylic stamps require conditioning to get more tooth on them. That can be achieved several ways such as constant use, fine grit sandpaper, or erasers.

I have that problem when trying to use the SU on acrylic stamps, so I don't use the SU ink for that purpose. I have not, however, had that problem with using the SU pads on rubber stamps. I've been able to use it just fine on both SU and non SU stamps.

I have problems with SU ink/die ink beading up on any bold image rubber or clear. Put versamark on your stamp then ink it up. The versamark provides the tooth that holds the ink.

I have also used an eraser on them and then it was fine. I use primarily SU ink so it is more the stamp than the ink...

I've never had this problem with SU ink. But that might be because I use SU stamps almost exclusively.

I always have this problem with my SU inks as well. It's like it leaves the impression of the material the pad is made out of on the rubber. In order to fix this, I tap tap, twist, and tap. lol. It's a pain, but it seems to work most of the time. I don't know why it seems this only happens with the SU inks. I don't have the same problem with my Memento pads, and I think they're fabric too (they're upstairs and I don't want to run up to double check).

I have had the same problem with my SU! ink pads and large bold images. If the image is small, it stamps okay. I find that the ink is more watery than Memento or CTMH (the two brands I use the most), even though all of them are dye inks.

you can use a brayer with large bold images to evenly distribute the ink. Works like a charm.

It also helps to rub your stamps across a pair of jeans...I keep a jean leg in my rubber room and if a stamp pools up on me, I rub it across the jean...

Don't worry, I'll help you escape just as soon as I find my way out of my rubber room. :mrgreen:

If you're having the problem with a new rubber stamp its probably because there is a film on the rubber from the moulding process. The release agent probably hasn't been cleaned off the stamp before they were packaged and shipped out. You can try washing the stamp in soapy water with a soft brush. If that doesn't clear up the problem, then I suggest using the jeans as was suggested previously, or use an eraser and go over the stamp and then clean the eraser crumbs off. Hopefully, that will get your stamp working again. The Versamark ink will also help with this problem. I always have to use Versamark with my clear stamps if I want to use SU ink, but find that I usually use other inks, like Momento, because of this extra step.

while it is not my perfect ink, I rarely have issues it.

I've noticed that some people get perfect results with a product and others cannot get a good result. I've seen this happen with SU ink, clear stamps, etc. I think part of it is how each of us stamps. Just a little bit different.

I just stamped a largish solid clear stamp with SU dye ink. My results were not the best. I then stamped with versamark first and then the dye ink and am quite pleased. I only find this necessary with large solid spots. Otherwise I am quite happy with the SU ink.

Rubber room
 

OH my gosh you made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Sure needed that!

I have the same problem...I do what the above posters say for acrylic stamps....versafine and using an eraser on the stamp beforehand! I find SU inks fine with rubber stamps, I have problems in general with clear stamps esp the cheaper ones! I love Versafine ink....I always find they give great impressions even with the $ inks!

Ok, so, here are my questions about your comments. Do you use any kind of special eraser? If you use Versamark first, does it muck up your ink pads?

This works really good or If you need to use black.. I have found that Palette Noir Black ink is working great for solid or bold images. Its great for acrylic too. I have been stamping all my sets (yes all of my sets and lord I realized i had a lot more than I thought) into a catalog and several are bold and acrylic and its working great. I think Palette has other colors too but to use the Stampin up inks the versamark trick listed above is fabulous.

Hugs
Jaunice

I think I remember Nicole Heady addressing this issue on her blog, saying that while the image looks blotchy when first stamped, the ink sort of evens out when on the paper over a short while. I find that to be true usually.

after I posted, I went back and tried out some new SU ink that I have. I compared it to Memento ink. Now I am using clear stamps, and SU ink is formulated to work with rubber stamps.

I have to say that there is a noticeable difference. The SU ink is thinner and doesn't handle large expanses of clear stamps as well as the Memento ink, even when using Versamark before with the su ink. However, for smaller images or line images, I get decent results with SU as long as I remember not to press as hard.

I just wish Memento came in more colors.

DITTO!

All great advice and one of the things I note with some of stamping class attendees is that sometimes they just let the stamp barely hit the paper and pick the stamp up. I find that if I wait just a couple of seconds more I get better images with solid stamps.

I let my stamp "sit" for a couple seconds also especially if I'm using dye inks. I usually count to 3 then lift the stamp off the paper. It seems to give it a little bit more to fill in the image.

To answer the above question of whether using the versamark first then dye ink will mess up your ink pads, no it won't. I wouldn't go back to the versamark pad after inking your stamp in the dye ink, but the versamark won't hurt your dye ink.

What a fabulous idea. TFS.