Have you ever inked up a brand-new photopolymer stamp, pressed it onto your cardstock, and… ended up with a blotchy, uneven image? It can be so frustrating—especially when you’re excited to use a fresh new stamp set! But don’t worry, there’s an easy fix.

Why Do New Photopolymer Stamps Resist Ink?

Photopolymer stamps are made from a flexible, transparent material that sometimes has a slight residue from the manufacturing process. This can cause ink to bead up instead of spreading evenly, leading to patchy, incomplete images.

The Simple Trick to Perfect Stamping

Before using your new stamps for the first time, take a quick moment to condition them. Here are a few easy ways to do it:

Use an eraser – Gently rub a white eraser over the surface of the stamp to remove any residue, then wipe it clean.
Stamp on scrap paper – Ink up your stamp and stamp multiple times on scratch paper until the image starts to even out.
Use a clear embossing pad first – This is my favorite method! Lightly tap your stamp into a clear embossing ink pad before adding regular ink. This creates a subtle “primer” that helps the ink adhere smoothly.

With just a few seconds of prep, your brand-new stamps will be ready to create crisp and clean images!

Want to see this tip in action? Check out this quick tutorial!

Give this trick a try the next time you open a new stamp set, and let me know which method works best for you!