Rubber stamp
232031
226080462
2008-07-16T19:09:17Z
Invertzoo
4863204
/* Rubber stamps as an art form */ remove extra space and extra period
{{otheruses4|the craft|the political metaphor|Rubber stamp (politics)}}
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}}
[[Image:Dinosaur rubber stamp.jpeg|thumb|right|A toy rubber stamp featuring a [[pterosaur]].]]
'''Rubber stamping''', also called '''stamping''', is a [[craft]] in which some type of [[ink]] made of [[dye]] or [[pigment]] is applied to an [[image]] or [[pattern]] that has been [[carving|carved]], molded, laser engraved or [[Vulcanization|vulcanized]], onto a sheet of [[rubber]]. The rubber is often mounted onto a more stable object such as a wood, brick or an acrylic block to produce a more solid instrument.
The [[ink]] coated rubberstamp is then pressed onto any type of [[recording medium|medium]] such that the [[color]]ed [[image]] has now been transferred to the medium. The medium is generally some type of [[textile|fabric]] or [[paper]]. Other media used are: [[wood]], [[metal]], [[glass]], [[plastic]], [[Rock (geology)|rock]]. High volume [[batik]] uses liquid [[wax]] instead of ink on a metal stamp.
Commercially available rubber stamps fall into three categories: stamps for use in the [[office]], stamps used for decorating objects or those used as children's [[toy]]s.
== Official rubber stamps ==
The signatures on official documents are verified using a stamp in Europe. Care must be taken to not to lose these stamps, since possessing the stamp would allow forgery of official documents.
Company rubber stamp is also called ''Company Chop'' in most Asian countries.
[[Passport stamps]] are a common use of very important official rubber stamps.
== Business rubber stamps ==
[[Image:Stamp.with.date.Jan22th2007.jpg|thumb|rubber stamp with adjustable date]]
Rubber stamps for business are custom-made, showing an address, a corporate [[logo]] or something similar, or they are bought ready-made. They often have movable parts that allow the user to adjust the date or the wording of the stamp. They are still often used to date incoming [[mail]], [[memo]]s and similar items, as well as to denote special handling of the document. There are about 10-15 large to medium sized businesses in the UK that are producing stamps of all kinds all day every day. Many smaller businesses exist producing just a few daily.
Business stamps are generally available from stationers or direct from the manufacturer.
Popular stamps include address stamps and one line cheque stamps.
Some artists have been using such stamps to decorate pieces of art for special effects or in an ironic way.
==Ready made decorative rubber stamps (art stamps)==
Art stamps have become fashionable in the [[United States]], more so than in [[Europe]]. While they are mostly regarded as children's [[toy]]s in Europe, in the U.S. they are available in many intricate designs and are widely used to decorate various objects.
Such art stamps can be used for easy decoration of useful things like paper for letters, greeting cards and similar things, but also can be combined with other techniques to create traditional art.
==Rubber stamps as an art form==
[[Image:Shorefight2.jpg|thumb|An example of rubber stamp art]]
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As rubber stamping increasingly gains popularity, mostly in the United States, it also gains a reputation as an art form. Some participants choose to carve their own rubber stamps, either of old-fashioned gum [[eraser]]s or eraser-like rubber. Companies like Speedball or MasterCarve even supply carving sets to amateurs wishing to carve their own rubber stamps that include gouge-like instruments. This special rubber is popular due to its ease of use. It can mimic [[woodcuts]], but is rarely used this way. The print from the carved rubber stamp is viewed as work of art on its own, or one or more stamps are used to embellish a work of art with other components.
Other materials besides [[rubber]] may be used to produce a stamp. [[Woodcut]] and [[linocut]] are art forms based on the same principals. [[Linoleum]] is much harder than rubber and thus requires special tools. In Europe, linocut is more popular, especially with students and hobby artists. Woodcut, opposingly, is mostly used by professional artists, requiring much talent and patience. Rubber carving material is available in Europe, but it's marketed as a children's toy and not widely used.
There are several possibilities to vary the look of those works. Paints, [[pigments]] and dye inks all create different effects, extending the use of rubber stamping from paper to fabrics, wood, metal, glass, and so on. Special ink pads can be purchased that allow for [[embossing]] and there are markers that can be used to ink stamp pads with a variety of colors for a multi-color look. Mixed media possibilities are endless.
The print of a larger rubber stamp can be a work of art on its own right, and is often used as such. But it's also possible to use multiple prints from the same or different rubber stamps on a piece of art to create a picture, or combine stamping with other art forms.
Of course the use of rubber stamps can be combined with other materials. The [[image]] may be embellished by the addition of [[chalk]]s, [[ink]]s, [[paint]]s, [[fiber]]s and a variety of other [[ephemera]] and embellishments.
Those works are often used in [[mail art]] or [[artist trading cards]] because they tend to be small and allow the making of series. The [[TAM Rubber Stamp Archive]] has a collection of prints of rubber stamps mail-artists used since 1983 (see link). Stamping is also often used in handmade [[cardmaking]], [[scrapbooking]], and [[letterboxing]].
==See also==
* [[Seal (device)]]
==External links==
* [http://www.iuoma.org/rub_arch.html The TAM Rubber Stamp Archive]
* [http://www.char4u.com/article_info.php?articles_id=8 History of Chinese Stamps]
* [http://www.dartmoorletterboxing.org Dartmoor Letterboxing] A popular pastime linking stamp-art and puzzle-solving
* [http://www.selfinkingstampsuk.co.uk/ History of self inking stamps]
* [http://www.rubberstampingfun.com/rsepage.html History of Rubber Stamps]
* [http://www.atlasquest.com/tutorials/stamping/ A tutorial on stamp-inking techniques]
* [http://www.nettally.com/palmk/Rubber_Stamp_Carving_Tips.html A tutorial on carving a rubber stamp]
* [http://www.stampscapes.com/lessonset.html StampScapes, a site with tutorials on rubber stamping]
* [http://www.stampostore.com/forum/ Viva Las Vegastamps!, a forum and Gallery for Rubber Stampers]
* [http://www.xstamperonline.com/articles.htm Rubber Stamp and Xstamper Articles]
[[Category:Arts and crafts]]
[[Category:Paper art]]
[[Category:Printmaking]]
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