One of the common staples from our childhood for arts and crafts projects at school, as well as our homes, is stamps. More often than not, we used low-quality plastic stamps and inks to get the job done. That’s not the case anymore. High-quality photopolymer stamps are readily available for use.
Now the question is, how do you use photopolymer stamps? Well, the whole process is very simple and straightforward. We are going to dive into the details so you understand all the steps and face no hurdles during your project.
What Is a Photopolymer Stamp?
Simply put, photopolymer stamps are like regular stamps, but they are of much better quality than the acrylic or plastic ones we used to use before. The main difference is visible in the way the ink is disposed from the stamp to the paper.
It is made in a way that when the stamp is dipped into the ink, the ink adheres to very specific stops. This results in sharper and crisper lines, overall a great output.
On top of that, the making of the photopolymer stamps is much better. As the quality is better, they have some weight to them and last longer than the acrylic ones. So, you will be able to work with these for a long time.
How to Use Photopolymer Stamps?
As I said before, using photopolymer stamps is very easy. You just need to follow a few steps and you will be presented with amazing designs.
Step 1: Prepare Supplies
As this is most commonly used for arts and crafts projects, you should have everything ready before you start the work. With everything lined up and prepared, you will have a much easier time completing your project, especially since you will be working with ink that needs to be stamped onto paper.
Step 2: Decide the Ink and Type of Stamp
The next thing you have to do is decide which color ink you want to use and what you want to stamp onto the paper. And the color combination you want to use is very important, as it will impact how the project looks. Having a design and theme in mind helps in this situation.
Planning everything out will help to ensure everything happens systematically and in order.
Step 3: Take Measurements
Now that you know what you want and what you are going to use, the next thing you must do is to make sure all the placements are proper. Because once the ink is stamped to the paper, you will not be able to take it off. So, if anything goes wrong, you will have to redo the whole project.
You don’t want to waste your time, product, or effort doing that.
Use a ruler that is big enough for the paper you are using. Measure the distance between the patterns or writings. Use a pencil to make marks on the paper so that you don’t forget anything or place the stamp on the wrong spot.
These little steps will make a difference in how the end result is going to look. So, don’t skip them. Once you have more experience using a photopolymer stamp, you might not need to be so strict with the measurements.
Step 4: Dip the Stamp into the Ink
This is one of the most important steps of the whole process. You need to make sure the ink has been picked up onto the stamp properly. For that to happen, you have to press the stamp into the ink disposer a few times so that it is covered completely. Also, coat the entire length of the stamp with ink.
However, you don’t want excess ink on the stamp, as this will lead to the ink leaking on the paper later on.
Step 5: Stamp the Ink on the Paper
Now is the time of action! Based on the marking you made on the paper, carefully place the stamp on the paper and press to dispose of the ink. Press a few times to make sure it is done properly. While doing this, make sure the stamp doesn’t move from its place, as it might lead to distortion.
Step 6: Wait for the Ink to Dry
All your work with the photopolymer is complete. Now all you have left to do is to let the ink dry before doing anything else with the paper. Once it dries, you are good to go!
Conclusion
Now you should know the answer to the question – “How do you use photopolymer stamps?”
All the steps are very easy to follow. You might need some guidance the first few times. But in some time, you are going to become a pro.