Rubber Stamping back of prints - Do you? And if so........

[Dinarius]

1. How big is the area of the stamp?

2. What fixed text (if any) does it contain?

3. What text (if any) do you add to it by hand?

4. Do you need special ink pads to avoid smudging on RC papers?

5. Do you need special ink to avoid damaging archival papers - e.g. Hahnemuhle

Many thanks.

D.

[langier]

1. Size is up to you. It can be a single slug of text (©Your Name) or elaborate, say specific to a portfolio with rules for inscribing title, image numbers, names, signatures, etc.

2. Same as above. There are no rules. What works for my projects may be different than what you need. For my promo prints, I simply use labels from my laser printer (ink jet works too), both custom and generic. On my labels I include my ©, name, website, sometime phone number and other contact info, along with branding, if needed. I use both 1x4 and 1/2x2 inch labels for this.

3. You can leave space for a date/year, file number, caption/title.

4. YES! Fast-drying, compatible ink is needed for most digital and RC papers. Not so crucial with fine art/fiber papers. YRMY. The only sure way of knowing is to test the ink. You can search on Google for compatible inks. You still need to let prints dry a bit after stamping to be on the safe side.

For a portfolio we produces last year, 50 total with 50 prints for a museum show and a copy to each contributor, we had a stamp made with info on the portfolio and then hand-wrote the photographer and title on each space within the stamp. Numbering each set was left to the photographer when he got it since there were already 2500 pieces that needed to be stamped and inscribed. We used archival pens to write the print into. Luckily, we had a lot of volunteers to help get this thing done!

5. Not sure. If the ink is not too gooey and sloppy, I wouldn't think that it could soak through the fibers to mess with the image on the other side. One possible solution is to leave a nice border on the print and stamp the back in that margin.