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Carving Blocks
The designs in creating stamps can be as simple or complex as
the designers would like to create them. The designers can
always explore their imagination and create possible designs
they would like to produce, provided that they can carve the
designs properly. That's why one technique that hobbyists
practice in creating stamps is the art of shaping and carving
blocks.
The carving blocks used in stamps are very soft. Some even
compare them to butter, so most designers take extra care in
carving them. For beginners, they may start with simpler designs
and bigger sizes of blocks. They can do it first by tracing the
design on a paper and placing the image face down on the block.
Designers can also choose to draw the design directly on the
block. The letters should always be traced in reverse as the
designer carves the letters.
Using either a knife or a cutter, carefully carve the outline of
the design before you finally cut the unwanted and unnecessary
parts in the block and test the design through stamping the
block in a paper. For young designers, supervision or assistance
may be required to prevent accidents when cutting the edges of
the carving blocks.
There are other tips for quality carving to create a more
detailed design such as carving both sides, maximizing its use,
and avoiding the outline undercut. For those who want to create
a multi-colored image, use water-soluble inks and put the colors
in the desired part of the stamp. Carving blocks may sound
tedious and hard, but once started, people will surely find it
very enjoyable.
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