Stamping is a fairly common technique for a multitude of items. Some people have already set up their own "business" printed at home with our own printer. Maybe not a full-time job, but as a method of earning a little extra.
If you are thinking of buying a printer for professional use or for personal use, here we show you some keys to choose the right one and everything you need to know about these machines, just like we did with the 3D printers and with the CNC machines.
What is stamping?
Stamping is a very old artistic technique that consists of transfer a shape or drawing to a surface by means of an inked mold and exerting pressure. In addition, it must be said that these patterns can be both flat and embossed.
Stamping has been done for many years on a multitude of different surfaces, as it is very flexible and allows adapting to different materials. Among the most used are usually paper, cloth, wood, ceramics and metal, although it can also be done in many others.
PREMIUM QUALITY
It is important to note that there are various traditional and modern stamping techniques that you should know:
- Woodcut: is the oldest form of stamping. It was widely used in Asia, its beginnings are in China, where it was used to print textiles. To make the xylography, wooden blocks were carved with the desired design. For large prints, several blocks were used that were assembled to create the complete image. Then the ink was deposited on the entire block by means of a roller. In this way, the raised parts were the ones that received the ink, and those that transmitted the image to the paper. Later, this technique would spread to other parts, such as in Japan, where its own genre called ukiyo-e was formed between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, to represent stories from popular culture. These prints would even go on to influence such famous painters as Monet and Van Gogh.
- Recorded: is another type of printing using chalcography. That is, the images are carved on a metal plate, usually copper or zinc, since they are softer and easier to carve. They are then polished shiny and smooth to create the stamping tool. This metal plate was then covered in ink and used in a press, causing the pressure to be transferred to the paper. This technique became especially popular in Europe during the XNUMXth century, and great artists such as the German Albrecht Dürer emerged.
- Etching: is another printing technique with calcography. It is a technique used initially to engrave designs especially in jewelry. However, in Europe it would emerge during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, becoming the preferred method. Polished copper, iron or zinc plates were used in this technique. The surface is then covered with a layer of acid resistant wax and using an etching pencil or needle to draw the design into the wax, exposing the metal. Once the drawing is complete, the plate is dipped in acid to eat away at the exposed lines and create grooves. Depending on the time of exposure to the acid, the depth of the lines was controlled. Once you had the design on the metal, without having to carve it, the wax was removed and the surface was inked, and then you used a press and transferred the pattern to the object you wanted to stamp. One particularly well-known artist who used this technique was Rembrant.
- Lithography: It emerged at the end of the XNUMXth century, quickly gaining popularity. Lithography printing is based on the fact that water and oil cannot mix. It was created by a German actor to publicize his plays cheaply, but it would soon be put to many uses. It even came to be used by artists of the stature of Toulouse-Lautrec. The word litho comes from stone, since the artist uses a limestone slab, although later metal plates made of zinc or aluminum began to be used. The artist draws the image on the slab using an oil-based crayon or ink. The entire surface is then covered with a mixture of gum arabic and acid that will fix the pattern to the surface. This causes it to also penetrate the parts of the slab that are not covered by the drawing, creating a layer that absorbs water and repels ink. Then the solution is removed from the slab and the lines of the drawing are erased. The surface is treated with water so that they are absorbed by the areas without drawing and thus when the surface is covered with the ink, it only adheres to the areas where there was a drawing before. With this, and with the help of a flatbed press, pressure will be applied to stamp the image where it is needed. In multicolor lithography, different stones covered with inks of different colors will be passed through, taking care to align the images that make up the multicolor composition well.
- Serigraphy: It was traditionally used to print silk in China, during the Song dynasty, although the technique as we know it today dates from the 1960th century. In this case, the use of a silk mesh and a stencil is required to transfer the pattern. The template or stencil could be made in a wide variety of materials. The stencil is attached to a screen and its surface is coated with a photoreactive chemical and exposed to UV light, then the stencils are removed and the mesh already patterned with the design is cleaned. A piece of paper is placed under the mesh on a screen printing table and using squeegees, a layer of ink is applied. When the mesh is lifted, the impression can be seen, which will only have penetrated through the areas that the photoreactive material was not exposed. It even supported multicolor screen printing using different stencils. Important artists have used it, such as the artist Andy Warhol during the XNUMXs for his screen prints of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe.
What is a stamper?
Una stamper It is a machine that allows stamping to be done easily. They can be of various types, although they usually consist of a base and a plate that will be the one that fixes the design to the object or surface that we want to stamp. They generally use heat and pressure to transfer the design.
They are very useful for multiple stamping techniques and there are stampers both analog as digital, mechanical or electrical, compact and industrial, as well as a multitude of shapes and formats (to print clothes, for cups, for plates, etc., and even some that can be printed on a multitude of objects).
The best stampers
If you would like to choose a good printerHere are some recommendations that may interest you:
VEVOR WT-90AS
VEVOR is a well-known brand in the world of machinery. This stamper has an adjustable temperature, between 0 and 350ºC, with an LCD screen. It is very well equipped, and it is robust, in addition to allowing the use of various types of brass molds. It is used safely and is reliable. And you can use it for materials such as leather, wood, polyurethane, PVC, paper, etc.
VEVOR 8 in 1
This VEVOR 8 in 1 stamper is a great heat press machine for transferring a multitude of objects, up to 38×30 cm for design. This machine allows printing on cups, t-shirts, caps, and many other objects that you can imagine. In addition, it has a digital LED display for easy manipulation and control.
VEVOR Mugs
No products found.
Personalized mugs are in fashion, if you want to join this trend, what better than this VEVOR stamper. A 280W heat press that will transfer the design you want to the mugs using the sublimation technique. You can both stamp and paste on the surface.
LYYAN Professional
No products found.
It is an electronic machine for stamping pens, with a processor and touch screen to transfer the parameters or store them for greater ease of use. This machine has a high performance, and can perform heat transfers (thermal sublimation), with fully automatic operation.
JFF
Another option you have is this other stamper for manual card engraving, such as credit cards, identification cards, VIP cards, club cards, membership cards, gift cards, etc., that is, for PVC cards . It has 68 different characters for engraving, it is resistant thanks to the steel construction, it allows adjustments of spacing of characters and lines of relief.
msfashion
It is not electric, it is totally manual. However, this cold stamping machine can be very useful if you are looking to stamp metal plates by pressure. For example, it can be used for identification cards, pendants, and other embossing.
GKPLY
You also have this other option, which is a stamping machine for jewelry engraving. Allows you to engrave letters, such as initials, dates, phrases, etc. It has letter spacing adjustment, and automatic letter centering. Each character can be between 1.5 and 2 mm, with rotation angles of 360ºC. Also included is a nib for diamond engraving and a double-sided sample dial.
Borfieon
On the other hand, if what you are going to set up is a business to do nails, you will surely love this other 3D nail stamper. A digital nail printer that allows you to create an infinite number of different designs, with manicure tools included in the kit.
ZHDBD WT-90DS
You also have at your disposal this other sublimation heat stamper. This press works at 300W, is digital, and can be used to stamp a multitude of different materials or objects, such as leather, PVC, wood, etc. Everything to personalize them as you like, with letters, logos, etc.
MaquiGra Mini
Allows hot stamping of text, patterns or brands. It can be used for both bags, t-shirts, leather, drying flowers and plants, etc. Also, it is quite compact in size and easy to use. The temperature it reaches is between 0 and 250ºC, adjustable. It also allows you to easily adjust the pressure exerted.