Shiny S542D and Trodat 4724: Two Date Stamps To Compare
Date stamps are useful office tools when you repeatedly need to mark a date on paperwork, packaging or other documents. You might need to record when something was received, when a task was completed, or when something needs to be completed by a future date. A common example is a “Best Before” date stamp used when working with food products and other perishable items.
Some date stamps simply print the date. Others have additional space around the date where customised text, a business name or a logo can be included. This makes them much more versatile for businesses that want to record a date while also identifying who completed the work or which organisation handled the item.
In this article, we look at two square self-inking date stamps worth considering: the Shiny S542D Dater and the Trodat 4724. Both offer useful space above and below the date, making them particularly suitable for applications where a standard date-only stamp does not quite do enough.
Why choose a square date stamp?
Many date stamps are rectangular, with the date positioned in the middle and a small space for text either above, below or alongside it. These work well for many everyday applications, but sometimes a square layout offers a better solution.
The Shiny S542D has a 42 × 42 mm body, while the Trodat 4724 has a 40 × 40 mm body. Both are a practical middle ground: large enough to accommodate useful text and a date, without becoming unnecessarily bulky to handle.
Their square shape provides proportionally generous space above and below the date. This is useful when you want a business name, a logo or a line for a signature as part of the same impression. Multiple rows of text are also possible.
The Shiny S542D has a small size advantage, with its body measuring 2 mm wider and taller than the Trodat 4724. Although that difference might not seem significant, it can be helpful when fitting a particular logo, adding a border or making small adjustments to a design.
You can view the models here:
What makes the date stamp Shiny S542D and Trodat 4724 different?
The main attraction of these two models is the opportunity to combine the date with a customised design.
For example, a business could have its name or logo above the date, with a line underneath for an employee to sign. Another business might prefer its logo above the date and a short line of text below explaining what the date represents.
Possible layouts include:
- Business name above the date and a signature line below.
- A simple company logo above the date.
- A department name above the date and an employee identification line underneath.
- A service provider’s name and logo, with the date used to record when work was completed.
- A short heading above the date and a reference or authorisation line below.
The square format makes these layouts easier to accommodate than on some smaller, narrow date stamps.
When does an extra 2 mm make a difference?
Stamp designs have a maximum available area, and every element needs to fit within it. If you want to include a border around your design, some of that space must be reserved for the border itself.
For example, a design consisting of text alone might allow the lettering to be made relatively large. Adding a border means reducing the available space for the lettering and any other artwork.
The same principle applies to logos. A logo that fits comfortably without a border may need to be reduced to allow the border and a little clearance around the internal elements.
The Shiny S542D’s slightly larger body can give us more room to work with. However, the most suitable model depends on the actual artwork, the required wording and how clearly the final impression needs to reproduce.
We can help assess these details before production.
An important design consideration: the date cannot be moved
One question we are sometimes asked is whether the date can be moved to a different position within the stamp impression.
Unfortunately, the date position is fixed by the mechanism. It cannot be shifted up, down or sideways to suit an individual design.
There is also a gap around the date that must be allowed for. The rotating date wheels need clearance to operate correctly, and the date mechanism occupies part of the available impression area.
This is important when designing a logo or text to sit above or below the date. The space in the middle cannot be treated as though it were an ordinary, uninterrupted area of rubber.
The surrounding text and artwork need to fit into the spaces available around the date mechanism. We also need to leave suitable margins so that the impression looks balanced and remains easy to read.
A border can usually be accommodated, but its position and thickness need to be considered carefully.
This is why we recommend sending us your requirements before settling on a finished layout. We can prepare a design proof that shows how the proposed stamp will look at its actual size.
Keeping logos simple for a clear impression
A company logo can make a date stamp look more professional and help identify the business responsible for a particular job or document. However, these stamps have limited space for customised artwork.
Very fine lines, tiny lettering and intricate details may not reproduce clearly when reduced to fit above or below the date. A logo that looks excellent on a computer screen can become difficult to recognise when reproduced at a much smaller size.
For the best result, we recommend:
- Using a simplified version of your logo where necessary.
- Avoiding very small lettering.
- Keeping fine lines and intricate details to a minimum.
- Allowing enough clear space between the logo, date and surrounding text.
- Considering how the stamp will look on the paper or document where it will be used.
If you have an existing logo, send it through with your enquiry. We can assess whether it is suitable or whether a simplified version would produce a clearer impression.
Where can these date stamps be used?
There are many situations where a date alone is not quite enough. Combining it with a business name, logo or signature line can make the impression more useful.
- Automotive servicing and maintenance
One particularly useful application is in the motor vehicle industry.
Workshops and service centres may need to record service dates in vehicle service books or maintenance records. A customised date stamp can identify the workshop while providing a consistent place to record the date.
A business name or logo above the date, with space below for a technician’s signature or initials, can create a practical record of completed work.
The precise layout will depend on the space available in the service book and the information the workshop needs to record.
2. Receiving and processing paperwork
Businesses that handle incoming documents, applications, orders or deliveries may use date stamps to show when an item was processed.
A customised stamp can identify the organisation or department while recording the date. This can be useful in offices, accounts departments, warehouses and administrative environments.
3. Quality control and production
Manufacturers and production teams often need to identify when an item was inspected, processed or approved.
A date stamp with a company name, department identifier or short heading can help provide a consistent mark on suitable paperwork, inspection records or packaging.
Whether a stamp is appropriate for a particular quality-control process depends on the recordkeeping requirements involved.
4. Food preparation and packaging
Date stamps are also useful in food-related businesses where staff need to record preparation dates, receipt dates or other important dates on paperwork and suitable packaging.
For some applications, a dedicated “Best Before” or other date-only stamp may be a better choice. If you want to include a business name or logo as well, a customised dater could be worth considering.
Remember that standard water-based stamp ink is intended for porous materials such as ordinary paper and cardboard. It is not automatically suitable for direct marking of plastic packaging, glossy labels or food-contact surfaces.
5. Administration and recordkeeping
A customised dater can be useful in many other environments, including offices, service businesses, repair workshops and organisations that process regular paperwork.
The combination of a date and identifying information can reduce repetitive handwriting and make documents easier to process consistently.
Choosing the right ink pad colour
Both the Shiny S542D and the Trodat 4724 use replaceable ink pads. This means the stamp can continue to be used over time without needing to replace the entire mechanism when the pad becomes worn or runs out of ink.
The available colours differ between the models.
- Shiny S542D ink pad
The standard replacement pad for the Shiny S542 is the S542-7. The Shiny S542D is available in a red-and-blue ink pad combination. This is a particularly useful arrangement for a date stamp because the date can stand out in red while the customised text and logo appear in blue.
If you would prefer a different arrangement, let us know when enquiring. We can advise on the options suitable for your intended use.
2. Trodat 4724 ink pad
The Trodat 4724 uses the Trodat 6/4924 replacement cartridge. Standard single-colour options include black, blue, red, green and violet, with additional colour options available in the wider Trodat cartridge range. A two-colour cartridge is also available for suitable applications.
The correct cartridge depends on the colour arrangement you want and the options available for this model.
If colour is important to your application, please mention it when requesting your design and quote so we can confirm the appropriate pad.
Understanding standard water-based stamp ink
The standard ink supplied with these types of self-inking stamps is water-based. It is designed for porous materials such as ordinary copy paper, uncoated paper and cardboard.
The ink is absorbed into the material, making it suitable for everyday office paperwork, forms, service books and many packaging applications.
However, standard water-based stamp ink is not the right choice for every surface. Glossy paper, plastic, metal and other non-porous materials may not absorb the ink properly. The impression can smear, dry poorly or fail to adhere as intended.
If you need to stamp these materials, tell us what you will be marking. Special-purpose inks and compatible stamp configurations may be available for certain surfaces. The correct combination depends on the material and the conditions in which the mark must perform.
You can read more in our stamp ink guide.
How we help you get the design right
At Self-Inking Stamps Ltd, we understand that not everyone knows how to prepare artwork for a rubber stamp. You do not need to have a finished design ready before contacting us.
To get started, send us the information you would like included. This might be your business name, logo, wording, preferred ink colour and an explanation of how the stamp will be used.
If you have a logo file, attach it to your enquiry. A good-quality PDF or vector file is often useful but send what you have and we can assess it.
We will consider the space available around the date and advise whether your proposed design is likely to reproduce clearly. We can then prepare a proof for you to check before production.
Our usual process is:
- Day 1 – Design and proof: We prepare the artwork and send you a proof for approval.
- Day 2 – Production: Once you approve the proof, we typically make the stamp on the next working day.
- Day 3 – Courier collection: The completed order is generally prepared for courier collection.
- Day 4 onwards – Delivery: NZ Post courier delivery follows, depending on your location and the courier service.
These are typical working-day timeframes rather than a guaranteed delivery date. Delays can occur during busy periods, if design changes are needed, or while we wait for approval. Courier transit times also vary by destination, so allow additional time where necessary.
The sooner we have all the required details and your approval; the sooner we can move your order through the process.
Ready to create your customised date stamp?
If the Shiny S542D or Trodat 4724 sounds suitable for your application, we would be pleased to help.
To get the process underway, send us:
- The stamp model you are considering, if you have a preference.
- The exact wording you want above and below the date.
- Your logo or other artwork, if applicable.
- Your preferred ink colour or colour combination.
- A description of the surface you will be stamping.
- Any special requirements, such as a signature line or border.
If you are unsure which model will work best, simply explain what you need the stamp to do. We can help you choose a suitable option, prepare the design, provide a proof and quote, and make any adjustments needed before production.
We supply custom-made rubber stamps throughout New Zealand. Whether you need a simple date and business name or a more carefully arranged logo and date combination, we can help you work through the design and get a stamp made to suit your needs.
10% discount when you buy 2 or more stamps.
Self-Inking Stamps Ltd can provide bulk order discounts. When your add two or more self-inking stamps to your order, you will get a 10% discount. Contact us for larger orders for even greater discounts. Any combination of rubber stamp can qualify. Also each stamp can have a different image. Contact our team for more Information.
