Today we are going to discuss the differences between acrylic and photopolymer stamps; as well as how to store and care for them. If you are looking for information on rubber stamps, click here.
Acrylic Stamps
Acrylic stamps are less expensive and “cheaper” (in more ways than one!) than photopolymer and more “stretchy” to the feel. They are lighter in weight, look “sduller” than photopolymer, and don’t stick to acrylic blocks very well, especially after time. They will sometimes get stuck to the backing sheet if they are older and will tear when you try to pull them off. When you see stamps by Fiskars, Recollections,and some of the larger scrapbooking companies such as Kaisercraft, Echo Park, etc., those are acrylic. They are also usually made in China.
When you ink up an acrylic stamp, the ink tends to “bead up” on the stamp and therefore, when you stamp, you do not get a crisp, clean impression. It is usually “blotchy” and uneven. There are things you can do to make them stamp better such as inking the stamp with versmark ink and then with your colored ink and stamping or using an eraser on the stamp before stamping, but in my opinion, acrylic stamps just aren’t worth buying. With that being said, there is only one brand of acrylic stamps I will use and they are the Penny Black brand stamps. I am not sure what is different about them and other acrylic stamps but I have better luck stamping with them than any others.
Photopolymer Stamps
Photopolymer stamps are higher quality and the difference between photopolymer and acrylic are nothing short of amazing. Photopolymer stamps are made to transfer ink so the ink sticks to the stamp extremely well, giving you a crisper, cleaner image. They are heavier and less stretchy than acrylic and more “clear & shiny” than acrylic. They usually have an “odor” or “smell” when you first open them where acrylic does not. If you hold an acrylic stamp in one hand and photopolymer stamp in another, you can feel the difference, it’s hard to explain in a blog post but there is a definite difference.
When you are shopping for clear stamps always be sure to look for “polymer or photopolymer” if you want the high quality stamps. Photopolymer stamps are usually made in the US. Here is a list of my favorite photopolymer stamp companies from last year.
Tips for storing clear stamps:
- Store your stamps away from the light. This includes fluorescent, uv and sunlight (even from a window!). They will yellow over a short amount of time in just the tiniest bit of sunlight.
- Do not store your stamps on vinyl, acetate, or cellulose acetate. Also, avoid plastics with PVC (Polyvinylchloride).
- Do not store clear stamps on the inside of CD cases, if you use cd cases to store your stamps, use an insert like this one. (You can also laminate a sheet of cardstock and cut it down to store your stamps on). The chemicals in the cd case will “melt” your stamps to a point where you cannot get them off of the cd case because they become “one” (ask me how I know this LOL).
Products known to be safe to store clear stamps on:
Crafter’s Companion CD Jewel Case Storage Panels
Crafters Companion Stamp Storage Panels
Polypropylene plastics such as Avery Elle Stamp & Die Storage Pockets, PVC emission-free cd/dvd pockets, and sheet protectors.
Polyethylene (PE) such as ziploc bags
*Updated to add DVD/Stamp Storage Cases 12/19/15
DVD/Stamp Storage Cases known to be safe:
Stampin’ Up stamp storage cases
Stamp Storage Cases from Check Out Store or you can find them here as well
This is how I store my regular and small stamp sets. I also store my larger sets on Stampin’ Up stamp storage cases and some rubber stamps in these Crafter’s Companion Storage Binders with Panels.
Stamp Cleaning Tips:
- Do not use Staz On Cleaner on your clear stamps, it can damage them.
- Dye Inks will stain your clear stamps but that does NOT affect the quality of the stamped image. It’s just a cosmetic issue.
- To clean your clear stamps, you can use a baby wipe, an absorber shammy (cut into small pieces and kept damp) or a stamp cleaner such as Hero Arts/Stewart Superior Ultra Clean. Here is a blog post and video demonstrating this stamp cleaner.
- If your stamps ever lose their stickiness or become dusty, rinse them off with dishwashing liquid and warm water and they will be like new again!
Stamping Mat/Pad/Surface
A lot of your stamping results will depend on the stamp quality, the ink quality and the paper quality. Here are some blog posts and videos I’ve done about inks and here is one about my favorite cardstocks. It’s also very helpful to stamp on a soft, squishy surface using a stamping pad (or mouse pad) such as this one that I use. (I use a smaller version of this mat but it is no longer available so this is the same one but in a larger size)
If I missed anything or you have more questions about clear stamps, acrylic stamps or photopolymer stamps, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me.
The products I mentioned in this blog post are listed and linked for your convenience below:
How long will a photopolymer stamp last? Will it last as long as a wood mount stamp? Also, are the cases from Stampin Up okay to store them in?
As long as you care for and store them properly they should last a lifetime 🙂 Yes the SU cases are safe 🙂 I store my larger sets in those.
Very interesting post, Kat. I have a personalized stamp that is described as polymer. It is not photopolymer. It stamps OK, but it is not stretchy and flexible. It’s quite stiff. Can you discuss the differences between polymer and photopolymer? Thanks! Barbara
I’m waiting on an explanation from hero arts which I will share but when people say polymer, they mean photopolymer 🙂 Yours sounds like it’s acrylic from the description.
oh Dear, I fear looking through my stamps now. I am afraid I will have the acrylic not the poly. Thank-you for explaining the differences!
Do you know where the best place to buy photopolymer stamp sheets is? I am looking at making my own stamps but nothing comes up regarding it.
Do you want one custom stamp or are you talking about manufacturing your own line of stamps?
I am making Photopolymer stamps , but turns out little yellowish and less shining . Is there any way to get crystal clear shining and full whiteness ?
To be honest I’ve never made my own so I’m not sure but I would contact the manufacturer of the stamp maker machine you are using.
Hello Kat, i came across your site when i searched for “life expectancy of polymer stamps” I have 12 sets of Close To My Heart stamps that have disintegrated. 33 more sets that are nearly disintegrated. The stamps were purchased in 2005 thru 2007. I have a video that shows the condition of the stamp. I contacted CTMH and was told 90 warranty they degrade over time. I asked if the stamps were made in the USA? CTMH replied “yes but some products are out of the country” I am hoping you can share if you have had any stamps that have disintegrated? I would welcome a conversation as I have saved the 7 emails from CTMH and am wanting to forward the email to the owner of CTMH. The comments made in the email do not coincide with the research that has been available to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
TC’s Paper Blessings on youtube the Valentine Day Card 2018 shows the stamp.
Thank You,
Tammy Collins
A good photopolymer stamp should not disintegrate over time. I would contact the owner. How did you store your stamps?
Hello Kat, I have a studio and the Close To My Heart stamps are in the storage boxes they sell which are in a a cabinet. I contacted the CTMH home office and they emailed me ” I’m sure you know but as they are a polymer over the years they do continue to degrade as they are exposed to light, regardless if it is direct sunlight.” . I am a 20yr crafter, it never occured to me that my clear stamps were at risk of “degrading” or what i consider desintegrating. So, i am considering not purchasing clear stamps in the future. Kat, have you experienced or heard of this happening to anyone else?
I have not until someone posted a comment the other day about CTMH stamps. I’m wondering if it is something in their stamps now. But I don’t know for sure. My suggestion is to email a few of the stamp manufacturers and ask them if it’s normal. Stewart Superior is one that you might want to ask.
Hello all, I work for a high-quality Craft Photopolymer Stamp manufacturer with sites in both the US and UK, and would be happy to help answer any questions anyone has about Photopolymer Stamps!
Lisa 🙂
Hi…it’s 2022, so I don’t know if you will answer this or not. Anyway, I received an iAd for Tim Holtz “cling stamps”. It seems that every time I turn around there is another term for a product and so I began wondering what the difference was between a cling stamp and an acrylic stamp. Now….I’ve run into the term “photopolymer”. I understand the difference between an acrylic stamp and a photopolymer stamp. What I DON’T get is what a ‘cling’ stamp is. Also, who sells photpolymer stamps? I’ve bought tons of acrylic stamps. They are advertised as acrylic stamps. I’ve never seen stamps advertised as photopolymer or polymer. Maybe I have some and don’t realize it. Who sells them? Thanks so much for offering your services in dispensing information. Kay
Hi I am sorry I’m late answering this. A cling stamp is a rubber stamp that is backed on foam, not on a wood block. Most stamp companies use photopolymer, KatScrappiness.com’s stamps are all photopolymer. You only get cheap acrylic stamps from places like Michaels or knock offs like Aliexpress. There are a couple of companies that use acrylic one i think is penny black unless they’ve changed it recently. Before you buy a stamp, I suggest contacting the company to ask, if they don’t state what the stamp is made of in their product listing. I hope this helps. 🙂
I’m looking for a type of stamp I can use for some melt and pour soap projects. I’m looking for a stamp with a cling to it to make sure I can press it into a mold without air bubbles under it. (Don’t worry, I will peel it out of the soap so I can color in the impression it left behind.) I would like it to be flexible like silicone for easy stick and peel. What type of stamp would be something like this? Thank you!
I have never worked with soap but I don’t know why a rubber stamp wouldn’t work.
I had no idea there were so many differences between acrylic and photopolymer stamps! I’ve used both, but never really thought about it like this. I’m curious, has anyone tried using a heat tool on acrylic stamps to see if it helps with the inking issue? 😜