I've got my hands on 5 genuine stamps featuring my original art! I already have some standard ink pads, but I asked the supplier for their opaque ink pads to compare the two. I'm considering offering an opaque option for anyone who might want to use them on black paper—because, you know… space.
Actual stamping with actual rubber by actual human hands with actual inks (except column 3).
I included the digital to highlight the detail lost and its specific areas. But honestly, the beauty lies in the imperfections. Those textures and subtle blotches add to the charm. It’s interesting how places like Creative Market sell effects and brushes specifically to mimic this look in art. Clearly, people appreciate it enough to deliberately add it to their work.
The Stamp Rubber This is the best part. The details are there as displayed by the standard ink column. Almost every hairline in the Ganymede stamp is present in the print. You can also clearly see each of Saturn’s rings and the rubber did not close up on almost any detail.
Which brings us to…
The Standard Ink
This is the clear winner to me. Just sharper all-around and noted above. The ink is less viscous, so it captures the image without gumming up at the edges.
Opaque Ink This is not too bad, really. If your goal is to print on darker paper, I think it might be worth having this capability. The ink does appear thicker and applies more like paint, which means the edges are not as crisp and are more inclined to bleed and smudge a bit. Ganymede actually looks almost blurry compared to the standard.
The Box This was also provided. Unprinted. But it will definitely do. It is a sleeve and tray. It slides out easily, and the blocks will all fit within a 9x5 space, with the ink stamps nestled on the side. I’ll take pictures and show it when I mock up the box design.
