So you are wondering how to order your stamp.

What about the details how do I tell you?

On each stamp page there are parts to tell us what you need and also be able to attach a file of something.

How do I describe to you what I need?

There is a ‘Custom Text’ box.

You can type away in there with the text you need, and notes if you feel like it.

Then there is also a ‘Questions, notes, comments’ box.  This is where you can describe just what you need, just make the box bigger by dragging the bottom corner if you need it.

But I have trouble describing it?

Sketch it on a piece of paper and scan that and send it to us, a pdf file is really good.

If you have designed it on a programme send the file by using the ‘Add a file here’ box.  We use vector files in CorelDraw for our production and pdf files import into that really well on the whole and then we can even trace over your current stamp.

I have a stamp and I want a new one just like it.

If we produced this stamp for you then we usually have the proof on file.

Or if it is one you have from someone else stamp it on some paper, scan it and send it to us.

We can import that, get the size and trace over it to get a really close match.  Then if you need any changes we can use that information to get the new part close to what you have already.

I have a different font can you do that one?

We have a large number of fonts in our system.  But not every one.

Put ‘Other’ in the ‘font’ menu box and then in the notes write the name of the font.

If you have one we don’t you could supply it to us and we could create your stamp with it.

Some fonts don’t suit stamps especially ones like Times New Roman as the thin side of the letter doesn’t mark as well as the thick side.  The really fancy script fonts can be the same with thin swirls off the letters being too thin to clearly mark the paper in a stamp.  This is even worse the smaller the font gets as the skinny side can disappear.

What about really small fonts?

The smaller the font the harder to get a nice clear letter.

Once they get down to 7 point there are issues.

At 6.5 point they regularly blob in the hooped letters.  What does that mean?  The centre of the hooped parts are solid ink as the ink creates a bubble over these areas when small and then makes a solid ink part on the paper.

Below this they quite often aren’t able to be read.

What about stamp stationery items like ink pads?

We stock the replacement ink pads for the stamps we sell.  To find the one you need use the “Search for Products” box at the top of the page by typing in the model number for your stamp and pressing enter.  This will bring up all the options for that model of stamp and then choose your ink pad colour you need.  Self-Inking Stamps Ltd stock a good range of Trodat ink pads and Shiny ink pads.  Sometimes they might not be in stock for the more unusual ones, we can usually get these in overnight and get them on the courier quickly to you.

Some people use stationery stamps to make individual stationery for themselves or their business.  When your stamp runs out of ink or the image is very faint a replacement ink pad stationery item is quite often needed.  When you need a stamp ink pad just click here for replacement stamp ink pads.  Or if an ink pad for a hand stamp is what you need click here.

The more information you share with us the faster we can get to the image you need.

Don’t panic if you get confused, just ask us to help.  Once you have an order for something to us no matter whether you buy or not that is a good starting point and we can change the order to the exact stamp you need further along the process for you.

You can see a time line of the steps here.