Inking Detailed Stamps
These stamps are also called art stamps and photo art stamps. They are very highly detailed and are often taken from vintage photos or clip art. It can be very frustrating to get the right amount of ink distributed evenly over the entire stamp.
One of the problems is that the tiny crevasses can become filled with ink from a juicy pad and when you stamp, you end up with a big ugly blob instead of the fine detail. Over inking can even happen when you press firmly on the ink pad, the ink wells up and fills those lovely details, especially around the outer edge of the stamp. When attempting to ink a larger detailed stamp with an ink pad you will often get an "inking line". This is the result of lifting the stamp and pressing it back on the pad to cover the entire stamp with ink. The ink is not distributed evenly across the stamp, leaving lines from every time the stamp has been pressed to the pad (or the pad to the stamp).
The best solution I have found is a brayer. Now please realize that there is no simple solution, but for me a brayer has been the most consistently successful for inking highly detailed stamps.
1. Ink entire brayer by rolling it repeatedly over the ink pad.
2. Roll the brayer over the stamp from multiple directions to prevent "inking lines".
You may have to ink the brayer up several times to an even layer of ink on the stamp. Often I "prime" my stamps by inking and stamping on scrap paper. The stamps seem to hold the ink more evenly when I do this and my second stamping results are usually good.
(Stamps from The Stamping Studio and Hearts in Touch)
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Great tip! I've had struggles with certain stamps and thought I just needed to be a little more focused on my inking. Good to know that it could be my ink and not necessarily the 'inker'! Love all of the little tips everyone shares on here!!
Thanks for the great tips.
Thank you for that good tip.
you can also "stamp off" once on scratch paper
I find I get by far the best results with a Versafine ink pad (Tsukineko) which although it is a pigment ink, is very fast drying and is designed for finely detailed stamps. It doesn't seem to block the fine engraving of photo stamps, and the inking lines are dealt with by applying the inkpad to the stamp in several different directions.
A good subject to post on, Shelly, thank you. It's good to read everyone's tips.
Eileen is right dye dased inks are best as they are thinner.
I place my stamp rubber side up on the desk and tap the ink pad over its surface in at least two directions to help prevent lines. Also with rubber up you can often see those lines before you stamp and can go over them.
the stamp "priming" seems to work besst for me. Some how the ink stays on the surface and does not fill the tiny fisures in quite so much the second or third time around. I guess I didn't realize it was an issue. I thought it was just me being .... well... me. Good info I wil try the brayer and the various inks. thanks
True. Also never use pigment ink, dye based inks are best.