The main difference between Stampin’ Up! cling and photopolymer stamps is the material they are made of and what they are used for.
Cling Stamps:
Cling stamps are made of high-quality red rubber with foam. They get their name from the fact that they “cling” to acrylic blocks when pressed on, providing a strong grip during stamping. The foam backing also helps in achieving even and consistent impressions. Stampin’ Up! cling stamps come with highly adhesive image labels which you need to adhere to the stamps when you first get them. These help you to identify each stamp and give them stickiness for them to cling to a clear block.
Photopolymer Stamps:
Photopolymer stamps are made from a clear, transparent polymer material. They are also designed to cling to acrylic blocks but have a different feel compared to the red rubber cling stamps. Photopolymer stamps are transparent, which allows for easy and accurate positioning when stamping. They are great for techniques like two-step stamping and for when you need to see what you have already stamped.
Here is a photo so you can compare the two types of stamps:
How do you use Cling and Photopolymer Stamps?
Both cling and photopolymer stamps need to be used with clear-acrylic blocks. The stamps temporarily mount to these blocks to enable you to stamp with them. Stampin’ Up! offer a variety of block sizes. It is best to use a block that is similar in size to the stamp.
The blocks are grooved for easy gripping:
What are the advantages of Cling Stamps?
- They stamp a good clear impression
- They are made of durable red rubber, ensuring longevity and quality over time
- They are easy to clean and maintain.
What are the advantages of Photopolymer Stamps?
- The transparent design allows for precise placement when stamping
- You can do a variety of techniques with photopolymer stamps
– Two-step stamping
– Mix and match (putting two stamps onto one block)
– Aligning the stamp exactly where you want it to go
– and more!
Tips for using Photopolymer Stamps
As photopolymer stamps do not have a layer of cushioning on them like the foam on the red rubber stamps, it is good to stamp with a Paper Piercing Mat or something similar underneath so that this can provide some cushioning as you press the stamp down. This will help achieve a clearer stamped image.
When using photopolymer stamps you need to be careful not to get excess ink on the block around the edge of the stamp as you may accidently stamp it onto your project. When inking the stamp, you just need to tap it lightly onto the ink pad and not press it too firmly into the ink.
How do you know if a stamp set that you are going to buy will be cling or photopolymer?
In Stampin Up! catalogues, below the stamp set name, item number and price will specify if it is a cling or photopolymer stamp set. I have highlighted the type of stamp it is in the images below:
If you are looking online, in the description it will say which type of stamp it is. You may need to click on the “Show More” button to see the full description.
Here is a video showing you the difference between the two types of stamps:
And here is a quick easy way to adhere the labels to your cling stamps:
Both cling and photopolymer stamps have their own unique qualities . Some stamps are more suited to a particular type of stamp. If two-step stamping is required, then it would need to be a photopolymer stamp. If it is a very detailed stamp or a distressed stamp, then it would need to be a red rubber/cling stamp.
Stampin’ Up! offer a wonderful range of high quality cling and photopolymer stamp sets. I hope you have learned some new things about these types of stamps and you enjoy using them. If you would like a copy of the latest catalogue to see this wonderful range of cling and photopolymer stamps, please fill in your details here.