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Location: Dedham, MA just outside Boston where I was born and raised
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Are your Clear Stamps & SU! Ink "Working"?
Is it me? I won't be offended if you tell me it is! But I just realized that I'm having trouble using my clear stamps and my SU! Classic ink pads. I get an uneven image and one that shows the texture of the actual stamp pad fiber. No matter what I try, I get this same ol' funny looking result. What's going on? Is anyone else having the same difficulty?
I found I had to pull out an ANCIENT Petal Options Chalk Pad to get a smooth, professional result.
I wish this products would just play together nicely!!!
Any advice, tips, suggestions are so totally welcome.
Thanks!:mrgreen:
I've noticed this fuzzy image also when I work with the clear stamps. Mostly I use SU ink but think I will try some others and see if I get a better stamped image. I hear so many raving about clear stamps....but I am a bit disappointed in the quality of the image I get. Might be operator error on my part though.
__________________ Have an awesome day!
Loretta Rathert~
It's NOT just you! I had this problem, too, at first! Here is what helped me.
1) What brand are you using? The cheaper ones, like the Michaels Studio G and such do not work for me. Others say they work fine, but I can only make it work with good quality acrylic stamps (so far, Papertrey and Clear Art are the only ones I've tried/tested to work well for me)
2) Are you conditioning your acrylic stamps? They come with this sort of thin film on them that doesn't produce a clear image. Some people rub a good quality eraser over them or rub them on their jeans to get it off. What works for me is to wet my stamp cleaner, rub it on the wet side a bit, scrub it on the dry side a bit, then stamp off onto scratch paper a few times. This gets the film off for me.
3) How hard are your pressing? For the longest time, my images were sort of "smooshed" and fuzzy. I thought it was the ink, but then I tried it with Palette hybrid ink and it was still doing it. I read on here not to press to "hard" and it all made sense. I am a pretty "hard" stamper as in I sort of slam the stamp onto the paper. I'm not sure why, lol, but I do. With acrylic stamps, the stamp will spread if you press down hard on it, so I've had to learn to be lighter with my touch when I stamp with acrylics.
It takes some getting used to, but I really like acrylic stamps now. It's great to be able to see through them and know what I'm doing and the storage is obviously SO much smaller/easier.
Anyway, I hope that helps!
__________________ ~*~ Clara ~*~ If you can think it, you can ink it!
A bought my first clear stamps a few months ago and no one told me that SU inks would not work. I have had no trouble with my clear stamps and any type of ink, SU or other, pads or markers. Keep trying.
Mary Beth
I do not like using SU ink with clear stamps. I've tried this for a better result but not the great results I get with chalk inks: I try not to buy acrylic stamps, I try to only buy photopolymer b/c they don't "squoosh" down when stamping and I get a very crisp image just like I get with rubber stamps. When I do buy clear stamps, regardless of how they're made, I clean them with StazOn stamp cleaner, rub them with a white eraser, then use one of those 4 sided fingernail file blocks starting with the roughest side first then using each side down to the finest grit. Dust it off and it should stamp a lot better and the SU ink should stick better. This also works great for conditioning the JustRite stamps. Good luck! If all else fails, you can get some chalk inks when they have them 50% off at HL, the colors are gorgeous and coordinate well with SU colors.
__________________ My tiny little craft blog: timetomyself.blogspot.com
P.S. I learned about conditioning stamps from various people on this board and on blogs. I finally figured out the method that I like the best, there are other methods you could try.
__________________ My tiny little craft blog: timetomyself.blogspot.com
I recently got hooked on the Colorbox Fluid chalk inks for clear stamps...they are so nice to use and always give an awesome impression. I just ordered ALL the full size pads and cats eyes. Next I will order all the refills...I have been reaching for these more than my SU classic inks these days....at least for the clear stamps.
Blessings.
I find that it really does vary with the stamp company. Papertrey works fine with my SU Classic Ink, however my Inkadinkado and a few others will not...they pool up or look fuzzy.
For colors I use Versamagic chalk ink...and for black I use Memento or Brilliance depending on how/if I am coloring.
__________________ Cher No longer stamping...on to bigger things.
I've used Palette and Stazon with great results. It's hard to get the stain off once you use Stazon though. Some people have had much success with Brilliance pads as well.
I condition my clear stamps by rubbing the surface GENTLY with an emery board. Just rub until it looks dull or cloudy. In other words, until it is not shiney like the rest of the stamp. I then clean off the stamp with a damp paper towel. I only do this when I want to use the stamp for the first time. No trouble with ink "beading up" after this.
I find my "cheap" clear stamps do what you described w/SU! ink. I recently bought (alot) of papertrey stamp sets and they work beautifully with my SU! inks. So do my technique tuesday stamps. For some reason years ago when I tried CTMH clears stamps w/SU! ink it didn't work well. But that was before I knew to condition them so maybe I'll run an eraser over the CTMH ones and see if I can get better results. (thinking out loud here)
Also I find that, as mentioned above, that I need a lighter touch with clear stamps, especially ones with lots of fine details. I was pushing too hard and the ink smooshed out and smudged.
It also helps to have something under the cardstock you are stamping on. Some use a magazine, a mousepad etc. I use 2 thick fun foam rectangles stacked and get better result.
I find with my CTMH stamps and SU classic ink, to load it with ink, stamp on scrap paper a few times (and reload with more ink, and stamp a couple more times) then stamp on my main paper. It seems to work ok.
Get versamark on your ink first, then the SU ink. I prefer the Palette (which is the same as the PTI ink) or chalk inks for my clear stamps. But if I don't have the color I want in Palette then I do the versamark/SU ink trick.
__________________ Aimee mom to two girls & one cool dog! My blog
Get versamark on your ink first, then the SU ink. I prefer the Palette (which is the same as the PTI ink) or chalk inks for my clear stamps. But if I don't have the color I want in Palette then I do the versamark/SU ink trick.
I've found that VersaFine works the best for me on ALL of my clear stamps. I followed a suggestion and seasoned all of my clears with VersaFine but that didn't work. I like the VersaMark idea and will have to try this so I can use all of my SU and Adirondack dye-based inks.
__________________ ShariW
Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart-Prov.3:5a
I use SU Craft ink - I bought all the spots since I already had the full sized classic pads. I haven't had a problem. O just recently learned about the "conditioning", but have been too scared to try it with an emory board. Good Luck!
You can always just stamp your clear stamp in Versamark first, then load up your dye based ink onto the stamp and it comes out perfectly. I learned this on Michele Zindorf's blog- she does it all the time and I have started to do it with my clear stamps too when using a dye based inkpad.
I don't do it with chalk inks as they already stick to the clear stamps nicely.
I've noticed too that my SU! inks as well as CTMH inks show the pattern of my clear stamps. However like mentioned before the Chalk inks work really well. They are juicy!
I was having the same trouble! I found out that you have to prep clear stamps but using an eraser on them, that helps the ink get over the entire image. I don't know why, but it helped. I also just bought Memories black ink at my LSS and LOVE IT! It is the best ink I have ever used. It is bright and covers wonderfully. Try it out and see how it works for you. It is a mixture of pigment and dye ink. It is quick drying but doesn't smear (as much) with any medium you use. I will never use another regular black ink again, for any of my stamps.
I have one ink pad, that I won and I tried using it with a clear stamp. Comes out horribly. Will just stick to my other ink pads xx
Please keep in mind that SU! inks are designed to be used with rubber stamps. It's not the ink's fault that it's not compatible with most other brands of photopolymer stamps. ;)
I see this so often - people frustrated with SU! ink because it doesn't perform well on stamps that it wasn't designed for. Go figure. :mrgreen: Try the seasoning method mentioned above to give your photopolymer stamps a bit more tooth and therefore hold on to the ink better. Or go with an opaque ink like chalk or pigment/pigment hybrid to get better results. Good luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charliegirl612
I was having the same trouble! I found out that you have to prep clear stamps but using an eraser on them, that helps the ink get over the entire image. I don't know why, but it helped. I also just bought Memories black ink at my LSS and LOVE IT! It is the best ink I have ever used. It is bright and covers wonderfully. Try it out and see how it works for you. It is a mixture of pigment and dye ink. It is quick drying but doesn't smear (as much) with any medium you use. I will never use another regular black ink again, for any of my stamps.
I absolutely love my Memories ink pads. LOVE. Works with ANY kind of stamp, rich, opaque colors, and behaves beautifully with any technique. I have had my black pad for over 6 years and only reinked it once so far... even though it is the only black inkpad (with the exception of StazOn for non-porus surfaces or pigment ink for heat embossing) that I EVER use.
A bought my first clear stamps a few months ago and no one told me that SU inks would not work. I have had no trouble with my clear stamps and any type of ink, SU or other, pads or markers. Keep trying.
Mary Beth
I have pretty good luck with clear stamps and SU ink - ever since I started conditioning my stamps with a very fine wet/dry sandpaper. A quick once over with the sand paper -- lightly -- makes all the difference in the world.
No one told me that clear stamps needed conditioning or that SU inks would not work. So dummy me, just went to stamping. Didn't have any problems. Have noticed that sometimes it appears that the ink has beaded up on the stamp but when applied to the paper seems to work just fine. I have noticed a light touch does work best.
Location: Dedham, MA just outside Boston where I was born and raised
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Thanks everyone for your pointers and helpful hints. I NEVER knew some stamps had to be conditioned! And I DID find that the cheapie stamps are the ones I'm having trouble with because I didn't notice this problem with sets from Kitchen Sink Stamps (for example), but did with supply store sets (forgetting brand names for moment and don't want to name wrong one).
So thanks everyone! I love getting info and feedback from the experts.
I always learn SOO much!
Laura
Thanks for all the great information about clear stamps and what inks to use. I was getting really frustrated because my SU inks were not working. My chalk inks work the best, but even with them some of my stamps just don't give me a nice clean edge to the image. Thanks again. I knew I could count on Splitcoast Stampers to help me out.
I don't know about you ladies but I can't afford to have different kinds of ink for my clear stamps. I have so many SU inks and CTMH. The acrylics do not give as good of an image as rubber in my opinion. I too have been very disappointed in the clear stamps.
I don't know about you ladies but I can't afford to have different kinds of ink for my clear stamps. I have so many SU inks and CTMH. The acrylics do not give as good of an image as rubber in my opinion. I too have been very disappointed in the clear stamps.
If you don't want to buy more inks (wow, someone here with self-discipline? Wow! ((((because I don't belong in that group!))))... the versamark before the SU! really does work. Good luck!
I've not "conditioned" my clear stamps before using, erm didnt know.. so you just rub an erarser over them like well if you were erasing a boo boo on a paper? then do you rinse it ? or wipe it off dry.
Secondly.. uhm Versamark before SU? each time if you want to make two, three or more images? or just the one time ?? (and will the Versamark help with the staining if you use Stazon?)
and last but not least.. I noticed in here how many people use diff types of ink.. which is great, but, I mainly have SU Card Stock, how do you get it to match? I'm one of those that it just has to match..
I don't typically have trouble with SU ink and my clear stamps (mostly PTI) but do with other brands. Thanks for the tip on the Versamark ink-will try that. I do find that if I stamp with a mousepad or something similar my results are better. With CTMH sets you get a very thin sheet of foam like material to use-it does help.
I have a few of the Inkadinkado stamps and also have trouble with beading...after doing a little reading on clear stamps it really seems to be an issue with the type of material used for the stamps rather than the ink itself. This also seems to be one reason that SU hasn't created a line of clear stamps yet...they haven't found a material that has a consistently clear image for both classic and craft pads.
VersaMark has helped a bit, but overall I have a better result with opaque inks (Craft, Stazon, Fluid Chalk, etc). I haven't conditioned my stamps yet, but there were some great suggestions above. Will have to try it out!
__________________ Melanie "Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry."
My Gallery My BLOG
I only use PTI clear stamps and the others went to my neighbor's kids as I couldn't get a decent image to save my life. I also own all the SU ink pads and no desire to add to it. I have a few chalk petal pads that do a great job and the PTI stamp pads work well too, but I found that after I ink them a few times, it gets better.
I only use PTI clear stamps and the others went to my neighbor's kids as I couldn't get a decent image to save my life. I also own all the SU ink pads and no desire to add to it. I have a few chalk petal pads that do a great job and the PTI stamp pads work well too, but I found that after I ink them a few times, it gets better.
I am new at this so I don't know what PTI stands for. I assume they are a brand of stamps?
I was having this same problem with some new clear stamps I bought (some Michael's dollar stamps, some Inkadinkado, some others). I KNEW I could find the answer here! Thank you to Splitcoast and all the SCS'ers for all of the help and inspiration! Now off to try my projects again.........!
__________________ Lord, let me live my life so that all I want my children to be, they see in me!
Any vinyl stamps won't work well with dye ink. You'd be shocked how many "good" companies are putting out poor quality clear stamps, aka vinyl. If it's made outside the US it's probably not photopolymer. I've never had any issues w/ photopolymer and my SU inks. Stamping on some kind of cushion always helps. Rubber has built in cushion, usually, and the clear don't. So using a cushion will make a huge difference. I've never had issues with October Afternoon, Technique Tuesday, CTMH, PTI, or other photopolymer stamps.
Are your Clear Stamps & SU! Ink "Working"?
Inks on Clear Stamps
