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Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691652 by frykitty
Apr 12, 2012 11:06am
Thread (disabled) Board
Very interesting... I just got one of these last week:
http://www.sallybeauty.com/uv-lamp/SBS-156500,default,pd.html?cm_vc=SEARCH
and some unexposed photopolymer plates to try exposing my own letterpress plates at home.
I found myself thinking that these plates weren't that different from stamps. I'd call them "custom" rather than hand-carved, but I like FORAYCH's suggestion of letting people know that the custom stamp is a copy of a hand-carved original. Like most people, I prefer to find hand-carved stamps, but I'd be happy with a copy in my logbook if I knew it was a back-up plan for a stamp that went missing.
As for LTCs: with the detail these plates can capture, it would be hard to tell on an LTC if you had used a hand-carved rubber stamp or a photopolymer "clone" stamp made from its image.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691669 by FORAYCH
Apr 12, 2012 5:57pm
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I tend to use the recycled icon if I have used the stamp for any other letterboxing type activity (as a traditional, postal, PT, etc.) to let people know the image is out there in another form. I have used that icon as well when using the same stamp for a different LTC

This is exactly how I use the recycled icon, too. I interpret it to mean "Recycled stamp image" or "Warning: You may have seen this image before from me in some other form."
I put the recycled icon on the second time I use the stamp for some form of letterboxing. The stamp's original listing, whatever the form, doesn't have the icon.

As for the StampMaker: I've seen these things and they intrigue me. I'm not a die-hard carver and I thought this would be cool to make a stamp out of something I might draw or doodle. (I say doodle because that's about all I can draw!) I definately see it as a custom stamp and wouldn't have a problem with them being planted in the wild.

I wonder if it would qualify for an LTC if it is the only image used...isn't one of the qualifiers for an LTC to have a "hand-carved, hand-stamped" image on it? A stamp from the stampmaker wouldn't be "hand carved" to me even if it is a clone of a hand carved image. It still wouldn't be much different than photocopying an image of a hand carved stamp and gluing it onto a card, would it?

It's a very interesting question, frykitty. I'm interested to see what others think.

Wyvern
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691873 by Wyvern
Apr 12, 2012 6:18pm
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It still wouldn't be much different than photocopying an image of a hand carved stamp and gluing it onto a card, would it?

I definitely don't see that. It may be a custom stamp, but it would still be hand stamped.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691652 by frykitty
Apr 12, 2012 10:42pm
Thread (disabled) Board
It would be nice to have a different icon for this type of stamp. It would be a stamp made at home (so not "custom") but also not "hand carved". Stamps made with a CNC machine doing the carving or a 3D printer making the stamp would also qualify for this "home custom" icon.

But with no new icon, I'd go with "custom" then explain in the clue.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691883 by frykitty
Apr 13, 2012 10:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
It may be a custom stamp, but it would still be hand stamped.

Yes, entirely. I was referring to the "hand carved" part...sorry, I was trying to quote the actual phrase that people refer to when relaying the qualities of an LTC. I didn't make myself very clear.

To clarify: would a custom stamp qualify as the "hand carved" part of the LTC?

Wyvern
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692126 by Wyvern
Apr 13, 2012 10:13am
Thread (disabled) Board
In my opinion, it may not be hand "carved", but it's still hand made. Close enough. =)

I know several ways to make a personalized stamp that don't include actual carving. I've made stamps with kids that don't involve the use of a sharp tool. No matter what method is used to make the stamp it's still much better than a store bought, mass produced stamp in my book.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692128 by PBandJ
Apr 13, 2012 11:06am
Thread (disabled) Board
In my opinion, it may not be hand "carved", but it's still hand made. Close enough.

That's why I think there needs to be a new type in between. It can be "home custom" meaning that it was made at home but not a hand-carved stamp. This can be done with the Stamp Maker machine, other photopolymers, done with a CNC or laser cutter, or Sugru. I'm sure that there are even more ways of making a stamp at home rather than carving out of some type of rubber.

<hint><hint>Should I post this to the "Suggestions" group to get it noticed?</hint></hint>
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692151 by Oberon_Kenobi
Apr 13, 2012 11:21am
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Should I post this to the "Suggestions" group to get it noticed?

Until it becomes a lot more common, I don't see a need for more than mentioning it in the clues. Why bother Ryan with something that's only going to pop up a few times at this point.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692126 by Wyvern
Apr 13, 2012 11:22am
Thread (disabled) Board
would a custom stamp qualify as the "hand carved" part of the LTC?

For me, it would not.

The stampmaker machine looks interesting but isn't it kind of like the difference between a handmade quilt and a mass produced store bought one?
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692163 by Lovebirds-NC
Apr 13, 2012 1:36pm
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I see your point, but I view it more like the difference between hand quilting and machine quilting. Both quilts are made by hand at home and are personalized with your own fabrics, color scheme etc. They may not be exactly the same, but either is far preferable to the mass produced store bought quilt.

For the stamp, you'd still have to figure out your own artwork, prepare it all, etc. But I don't know exactly how to use the stampmaker, so maybe I have it all wrong.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692163 by Lovebirds-NC
Apr 13, 2012 1:51pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Just to clarify, in my mind, I'm only making a copy of a stamp I already carved by hand. I think this is very different from preparing art and using the stampmaker to create the stamp.

To me, the first is closer to qualifying for hand-carved, because the original version was. The latter is closer to custom.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692203 by PBandJ
Apr 13, 2012 2:12pm
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I view it more like the difference between hand quilting and machine quilting.

Yes - that is a better comparison. Thank you:-)

For the stamp, you'd still have to figure out your own artwork, prepare it all, etc.

I agree but then the machine does the actual carving which to me is the craftsmanship/artistic production part of a hand carved rubber stamp.
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692213 by frykitty
Apr 13, 2012 2:28pm
Thread (disabled) Board
But a copy of a hand carved stamp was not itself, hand carved. I would call it a custom stamp.

If you made a copy of a hand carved stamp, which one would you use for LTCs? Which would you plant in a traditional box?
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692219 by Lovebirds-NC
Apr 13, 2012 2:33pm
Thread (disabled) Board
If you made a copy of a hand carved stamp, which one would you use for LTCs? Which would you plant in a traditional box?

If I actually did this, I'd probably keep the copy at home for LTCs and a spare in case the original was lost. In fact, I'd probably make LTCs with the original before I planted, and just keep the copy if I needed more cards down the line. I'd go this way because in a plant, people actually see the stamp, and get to see how it was carved, which I always find interesting.

fk
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #692220 by frykitty
Apr 13, 2012 3:40pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I'd go this way because in a plant, people actually see the stamp, and get to see how it was carved, which I always find interesting.

Agreed, we would probably still look for a traditional box with a copied/custom stamp but would enjoy it more with the original, hand carved one.

From your logbook I see now that you do unlimited additions of many of your LTCs so understand why you might want to make a spare copy of stamps. I'd want a "first edition" of your LTC, made from the original though:-)

It's an interesting machine - I could see it as a great investment for an etsy seller...
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #691652 by frykitty
Oct 22, 2013 6:30pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I have been letterboxing since late June 2013 so am late to this discussion. I have been taking drawing lessons for awhile and have many images, mostly pencil that I have been turning into stamps using the Stampmaker machine. I am wondering how these will perform/last outdoors with the changing temperatures etc. Anyone using these stamps have comments on performance or hints? Also acceptance...
Re: Cheating with a stampmaker
Board: LTC: Trades and Trackers
Reply to: #811975 by Dos Lobos
Oct 23, 2013 5:42am
Thread (disabled) Board
I don't have any info about the performance and longevity of that type of stamp, but I wouldn't worry about people not finding/loving your custom made stamps. Even though they are not hand-carved, they are still unique stamps that you can only find in your boxes. Welcome to the hobby!