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Hello! I am having a hard time stamping a clear image with my solid clear stamps, a heart in particular. :oops: The trouble I am running into is that the ink "floats" around on the stamp once the ink is applied. The ink pools out from under the stamp around the edges and gives a splotchy image. How can I get a crisp, solid image without the edges leaking? I have the stampers secret weapon so maybe it's the ink I'm using. I've tried Brilliance, VersaMark and Hampton Art/Studio G brands with similar results. Any feedback is welcomed and thank you in advance!
Speaking of Brilliance, I cannot get a clear image without the leaking using clear or rubber stamps :-x
Try "sanding" the surface with a nail buffer or super-fine sandpaper - it gives the surface "tooth" for the ink to hold onto. Another thing to try is inking up the stamp with clear Versamark first, then the colored ink (the Versamark will not contaminate the colored ink) before you stamp. It also sounds like you may be over-inking the stamp. Try a lighter hand and possibly multiple stampings as opposed to a lot of ink all at once. Good luck with that!
Yeah, the only thing I can think of is you're using too much ink and/or pressing too hard, especially if you're using pigment because pigment doesn't bead up on a stamp like dye will.
Brilliance is actually one of my favorite inks and I don't have issues with it other than if there's too much ink I've applied (definitely use a light tapping touch of the inkpad to the stamp) and/or I've pressed too hard.
Is your Brilliane ink pad really juicy? I’ve never had problems with Brilliance and like Frugal Scrapper I’d say its one of my favourite inks because it performs well on both rubber and clear stamps. If you have a really juicy pad it’s possible you’re over-inking without even really realising. Try tapping the pad on the stamp several times but really, really lightly and see how you get on.
Angelnorth, its brand spanking new and extra juicy! I thought it may have been me pressing too hard, so I tried to lighten the pressure but tapped my stamp in the ink pads more times. Thank you for the reply!
Angelnorth, its brand spanking new and extra juicy! I thought it may have been me pressing too hard, so I tried to lighten the pressure but tapped my stamp in the ink pads more times. Thank you for the reply!
From your phrasing I�m guessing you have the pad on the table and press the stamp onto the pad. If so, try the other way round - hold the stamp face up and tap the pad down onto it. I find it seems to be easier to tap lightly for some reason.
Angelnorth, its brand spanking new and extra juicy! I thought it may have been me pressing too hard, so I tried to lighten the pressure but tapped my stamp in the ink pads more times. Thank you for the reply!
You need to tap the pad to the stamp. NOT the stamp onto the pad. It really does make a difference.
Is it new stamp? Photopolymer or acrylic? Acrylic stamps and some cheap photopolymer stamps that aren't made from a high quality photopolymer from respected companies can give you a hard time. You can try "erasing" them with a pencil eraser, rubbing them with your fingers or on your jeans, and then adding Versamark.
That worked for me with some acrylic solid stamps from HSN that came with something else and it worked, and having a stamping platform helps.
I'm too klutzy to use sandpaper; for sure I'd make a little divot or do some other damage.
Such a good point about paper - it can make all the difference. I think Versafine and especially Versafine Clair also are "stickier" inks, which can help a fussy stamp. You can even stamp with them first to help season a stamp.
Tried out some of the tips:
my favorite was adding the inking with VersaMark first then the black!! Made a world of differnce. Also, not pressing too hard helped a lot too! Thank you all for the feedback:p
Stamping a solid image with clear stamps
