Let's talk about ink!

My favourite pigment inks are Amuse and Fresh Inks. They dry quickly and give good coverage. For dye inks I use Papertrey Ink inks. I've heard the Hero Arrs inks are a bit splotchy when you first stamp but improve as they dry - not sure if that's the case?

I just bought a few Simon Says Stamp dye inks in basic colors, red, yellow, blue, green and black. My first impression was that I like the way they stamp. I also have SU pads that I've had for almost ever (1990 or 1991 when I first got into stamping) that still work great. Not a fan of Marvy Uchida or CTMH.

I agree, Bamboo leaves is lovely!

I'll be honest and say it was so long ago, that all I really remember is that I didn't like the new pads, although I definitely don't recall the problem as too much ink.  I think that the ink just beaded up on whatever stamp I was using.  It might have been someone else's clear (photopolymer) stamps.

Maybe the problem was just that many of the reps were posting (over on Splitcoast) about how AWESOME these new ink pads were, and I didn't think they were any better (or worse) than anything else I had, so I was decidedly unimpressed.  And, of course, once people just RAVE about how something is the best. thing. ever., and you disagree with that, it's hard to want to listen to anything they say again. LOL.

I'm going to a crop in a few weeks with someone who happens to be a rep; maybe I'll borrow her pads and try them out again.  

I know what you mean about the middle of the stamp, though.  I don't use a whole lot of big inkpads anymore for that reason-- I like the little stampin' spot shape or the smaller dewdrop sized ones.  I think I have better control that way.  And a lot of people said the center of their big SU pads would sink in; that doesn't happen on the little ones.

I've been using CTMH dye ink pads since 2008 and haven't ever had any problems with them. I signed up just so I could get a discount on the ink pads because I wanted to buy a full set of new ones. My old ink pads were probably 12 years old and were due to be replaced.

Personally, I like dye ink better than pigment inks because they dry fast on just about every surface and I don't like goofing around with heat embossing all that much. I also like that for the most part they wash off of the dies completely without a lot of staining (aside from the waterproof kind, that stuff stains EVERYTHING). I mostly use colored pencils to color so I don't have issues with the stamped images bleeding, etc.

For big stamps or those with larger solid areas, I turn those over so the die side is face up and apply the ink to it by tapping the pad onto the stamp instead of the other way around. This way you can SEE that the entire image has been inked before you go to stamp it. Works like a charm with large or small ink pads.

If you are having trouble with the ink beading up on the dies, it might be because the die is new and needs to be "seasoned" first. This can be done a couple of ways. One, you can take a white rubber eraser and rub the printing surface of the die with it, then clean the stamp. It should take the ink more readily after that. Two, you can take the stamp and kind of "grind" it into the stamp pad (felt pads, not foam), then stamp it onto scratch paper. Repeat that process a couple of times, then clean the stamp and try it. You should get decent impressions after that. Three, you can take one of those stamp cleaners with the scrubber top, like a bingo dauber thing, and scrub the die really well with it and that should help too.

With new red rubber stamps, sometimes there is a buildup of silicone on the printing surface from the manufacturing process that makes the ink bead up and you have to get that off before it will work right. Sometimes clear stamps that you THINK are polymer are actually made of cheaper clear silicone, and that won't take dye ink too well no matter what. You can tell that's the case because the clear stamp doesn't cling too well to the acrylic blocks even after both have been cleaned.

Hope this helps someone!

I just got some of the Stampin Up pads. I really like them.

Stamps......if you can't get ink to adhere to the clear ones gently use an emery board and sand them. Once sanded and then stamp a couple of times. Your image should be good!

crazy4scraps - the problem I have with CTMH inks is two fold.

First I can never get the darn things open or closed with out getting my fingers all inky. I can't figure out the latch and the twist around of the top.

And second I don't think the color is dark enough and I'm horrible at trying to re-stamp and image. Maybe I chose the wrong colors. The ones I got was sold as a four-pack, I think. The colors were a red, tan, chocolate and blue or something like that.

I have all the distress inks which I like more for techniques than plain stamping. I have some pti inks, hero arts, archival and momento . Just did the swatch colors that jennifer mcguire developed...it was interesting to see the shades of inks I have.....not sure which brand I like best....I tend to buy for color.....

INk test..

I also stamped it all in red. I had a red ink for all the brands and type.
I used a rubber stamp though. I should have done a side by side comparison with an acrylic stamp as well.
Because as we all know they don't stamp the same at all.
So if anyone is going to do that. I suggest doing both types of stamps.

I was recently in the same boat, trying to decide on a line of inks to invest in. My crafting OCD doesn't like a bunch of mixed brands within a category (dye, pigment, chalk, etc.) I did a lot of internet research and found that Jennifer McGuire's videos on stamp inks were most helpful. I eventually decided on the line of premium dye inks from Simon Says Stamp and I'm quite pleased with my purchases. Their coverage is great, their line of colors is really diverse and I like that the ink coordinates with their paper and that you can also get them on sale (every so often). The only downside is that you can only buy them online. I was really hoping to find a line that was carried by Michael's, JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby so that I could use coupons and not have to pay shipping. Unfortunately, the inks they carried (dye) didn't stack up against the SSS line, IMO.

Best of luck to you!!

I have never had an issue with HA inks being splotchy. Personally, I'm enjoying the Studio Calico Color Theory inks www.studiocalico.com/shop/ink-pads they have multiple green colors. They can be splotchy but I heavily ink the stamp and I have no issues.