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There are various types of stamps, including those used by individuals and those used by corporations. Among them, rubber stamps are often used in companies and shops.
Although there has been an increase in paperless use in recent years, there are still many situations where stamps are necessary. Even tasks that require handwriting each time can be made more efficient by using rubber stamps. I've never used rubber stamps before working at a company or store, but I'll explain in detail the different types, their characteristics, and precautions when using them.
What is a rubber stamp?
Most rubber stamps are used by companies, so many people may not know which one they are referring to. I will explain the characteristics of rubber stamps.
Rubber stamp is a generic term
There are various types of stamps, but rubber stamps are a general term for stamps whose stamp surfaces are made of rubber. Address stamps with company addresses, data stamps with dates, etc. can all be called rubber stamps if the stamp surface is made of rubber.
Difference between rubber stamp and HANKO
There are major differences in the material of the stamp surface. HANKO are made from hard materials such as wood such as psyllium, tusks and horns of elephants and cows, and other hard metals such as titanium. On the other hand, the stamp surface of a rubber stamp is made of rubber material.
Uses of rubber stamps
Rubber stamps are made of soft and elastic material, so you can press them neatly without worrying about the amount of force or balance you use. Therefore, we recommend using rubber stamps for documents that require frequent stamping or for documents that require stamping many times in a row.
On the other hand, when HANKO made of hard material, you must apply pressure evenly when stamping, otherwise a beautiful stamp will not come out. For this reason, there is also a special mat that is drawn on the back side of the paper, and each sheet is pressed carefully.
About rubber stamp materials
The stamp surface is made of resin rubber. This material is suitable for water-based ink, and if you are stamping on paper, a rubber stamp with an orange rubber side is suitable.
The main body (handle) of a rubber stamp
Although the stamp surface is made of rubber, the material of the handle itself varies depending on the purpose. There are transparent types such as wood, plastic, and acrylic that are easy to grip.
Precautions when using rubber stamps
Here are some things to keep in mind when using rubber stamps. You can make it last longer just by being aware of it.
Use a stamp pad for rubber stamps
Regular HANKO use vermilion, while rubber stamps use a stamp pad. Since the material of the stamp surface is different, it is necessary to use different ink pads and stamp pads.
The ink is oil-based and the stamp pad is water-based. Rubber is sensitive to oil, so even though it is a rubber stamp, if you continue to use ink for a long period of time, the stamp surface will deteriorate and become deformed.
The same goes for HANKO; if you use a stamp pad instead of ink, it can cause deterioration and cracking. Please use the stamp that fits each stamp.
If you need to stamp with an oil-based stamp, we recommend using a "black rubber" rubber stamp and a special stamp pad.
How to care for rubber stamps to make them last longer
Rubber stamps are used more frequently than HANKO, so they are often kept on desks. As a result, dust and other particles gradually adhere to the stamp surface, get into the gaps, and accumulate dirt. If the stamp does not come out clearly when stamping, it can be restored with some simple care.
Usually, just wiping off the remaining ink after pressing will protect the lifespan of your rubber stamp.
If the dirt is especially heavy, gently wash it off with a mild detergent hand soap or dishwashing detergent. Do not use other detergents or alcohol as they may cause deformation. If it is very dirty, use a soft brush to gently wash it off. If you rub too hard, the stamp surface may be scratched or deformed. We recommend regular cleaning to prevent dirt from accumulating.
types of rubber stamps
There are many types of rubber stamps. We will introduce each of them in detail.
1 line mark
The price of a one-line stamp varies depending on the size and length of the font. The one with the smallest character is size 6, and the size of each character is approximately 30 mm. Gradually it gets bigger and when it reaches No. 1, the size of one character is about 100mm. The largest size, the first issue, is approximately 150mm in size. They are made for various purposes including course marks.
address stamp
Unlike single-line stamps, these are multi-line stamps with two or more lines, and can contain information such as address, company name, representative name, telephone number, and FAX.
There are also types where the main body (handle) is integrated with a wooden stand and a plastic stand, and there is also a free mate with parent and child stamps that can be used in any combination.
The wooden stand has a rectangular parallelepiped wooden handle that is shaped to easily transmit force. The handle of the plastic stand is made of transparent acrylic and has an easy-to-grip shape, making it easy to apply force evenly. Freemate is a type of rubber stamp rootstock that can be disassembled line by line, such as parent-child stamps. This rubber stamp is convenient to have because you can use just the address or change the order.
check stamp
These stamps are used not only for checks, but also for rental contracts, insurance contracts, contracts with financial institutions, etc. It is used to enter the address, company name, and representative name, and the specifications are almost the same as address stamps. The difference from address stamps is that the contents of the stamp are concise and the layout emphasizes the name of the representative.
Transfer stamp
A transfer stamp is a stamp used to inform the other party of your company's bank transfer destination. You can also enter the bank name, branch name, number, and name (company name) of the bank to which the transfer will be made, and include a message such as ``Please transfer the transfer to the account below.''
address stamp
It is possible to use it as an address stamp, but in addition to your company's address and company name, if your company has multiple departments, it is more convenient to include the names of those departments. If you often have to stamp stamps on reply envelopes, etc., it may be a good idea to create a separate one.
square seal
A square HANKO with the company name on it. This stamp is similar to a company seal used as a company seal, and is stamped on documents issued by the company such as invoices and receipts. Unlike the round seal, which is submitted to the Legal Affairs Bureau, it is not used on important contracts such as rental and insurance contracts, or on official notification documents such as financial institutions. Round seals and bank seals must be reported to the Legal Affairs Bureau and bank at the time of company establishment, but square seals do not require notification. The company's square seal and round seal are used as if they were personal seals and registered seals.
Sizes range from small 15mm square to 30mm square, but 24mm square is the most common size. It is common for the company name to be engraved vertically on the face of the stamp, and in order to balance the number of characters, the layout is sometimes arranged by adding ``in'' or ``noin'' after the company name.
The main typefaces are Tenshotai and Kointai.
The vertical and horizontal lines of the seal typeface are vertical and horizontal, and the curves are also vertical and horizontal. It looks like the top, bottom, left and right are symmetrical, and at first glance it looks like a symbol, but I don't know what is written on it.
Old seal typefaces have parallel horizontal lines and are easy to read, but the typeface has rounded lines that are typical of HANKO, making it clear and easy to read.
Fuga seal
Fugain is a stamp that is used to stamp New Year's cards, greeting cards, and other postcards and envelopes.It includes your address, name, TEL, etc., and is surrounded by an outer frame. Fugain is an old-fashioned stamp that gives you a sense of the good old days. The rubber stamps introduced above, with the exception of square stamps, generally have fonts such as Mincho or Gothic, but the fonts used for Fuga stamps include Kointai, Gyoshotai, and Gyoshotai. The Reisho font suits the atmosphere.
Kointai is as introduced in the previous section. Gyosho is a typeface that is a slight variation of Kaisho, and the lines are connected to create a sense of movement. Reisho font is characterized by the way the lines begin and end in the completely opposite way to the way they are written in calligraphy, making it a unique yet easy-to-read typeface.
Noshibukuro seal
As the name suggests, a gift bag stamp is a stamp stamped on the surface of a gift bag. By writing vertically in a block or line script, you can create a beautiful calligraphy-like atmosphere. You can choose the length from 50mm, 55mm, or 60mm depending on the size of the bag.
Until a few years ago, there were one or two people working in office work who could write neatly. If you purchase a gift bag at a department store, they also offer a service to engrave letters on it. However, if you are in a hurry, it is very convenient to have one as it is easy to press and has a texture that matches the shape of a paper bag.
Name seal
It has the same specifications as the one-line stamp, and as the name suggests, the name is entered. Rubber stamps are very convenient and can be used in a surprising number of situations, since if you create them in the same size as the employee's name, you can eliminate the hassle of handwriting, stamping, and printing.
Rubber stamps are often used not only in companies but also in daily operations at schools, kindergartens, and nursery schools. I think there is no harm in creating one for groups or organizations with a certain number of people.
data stamp
A data stamp is also called a rotary date stamp, and is a stamp that contains the date. In addition to the date, it is common to use words that indicate the content of the work, such as received, received, faxed, inspected, and the name of the person confirming the work. If you push up the screw on the side while holding the handle of the main body, the date part will go into the back, and you can change the date part by turning the screw. The date part can be changed in the Western calendar (also compatible with the Japanese calendar), month, and day.
They come in circular or oval shapes, with widths ranging from small size 4 14 mm to large width 12 36 mm. If it is an oval type, the maximum width is No. 16 and 48 mm.
rubber stamp with frame
Stamps can include not only text but also frames. In general, it is possible to create not only round frames such as "done" marks to notify when work is completed, but also grid-shaped frames. If it is a round type, there are types from 6mm to 18mm.
Documents that can use rubber stamps
Rubber stamps can be used for a variety of purposes, and are primarily used to reduce the burden of handwriting. In companies, rubber stamps are often used for the following documents:
- bills and checks
- contract
- invoice
- receipt
- Internal documents (notices/communications)
- envelope
- Acceptance stamp
- Receipt stamp etc.
Rubber stamps are very convenient because they can be used to stamp documents that cannot be printed, such as receipts. Anyone can write the same text no matter who presses the button, which helps prevent writing errors. However, it cannot be used on paper that repels ink, so it is best to use it wisely.
How to make a rubber stamp and its size
Shops where you can make rubber stamps include HANKO specialty stores and online HANKO shops. The ordering process is simple; all you have to do is decide on the content and font you want engraved and fill out the order form. We will introduce how to make rubber stamps and the process to order.
1. Choose the rubber stamp size
Rubber stamps come in multiple sizes for each type, so choose the size that matches the number of characters you want to engrave. If you're looking for a rubber stamp that you'll use repeatedly every day, we recommend choosing one that's easy to hold. For your reference, we will introduce the sizes of various rubber stamps.
- Address stamp: 2 lines: width 6.5cm to 7.5cm, 3rd line: width 7cm
- Parent and child seal‥3 sheets: width 6cm
- Address stamp: 2nd to 4th line: width 5.5cm, 5th line: width 6cm
- Square stamp‥15mm~30mm per side
- Data stamp: No. 4 round 14mm, No. 5 round 15mm
- Name stamp‥1 line: Width 2.5cm~3cm
2. Material selection
For many rubber stamps, you can choose the material for the main body (handle). Commonly used materials include wood, plastic, and acrylic. When choosing a rubber stamp, consider the shape that is easy to hold and the ease of storage, depending on the intended use.
3. Decide on a font
After choosing the material for the rubber stamp, the next step is to decide on the font for the characters to be engraved. Depending on the type of rubber stamp, there are usually several fonts to choose from. Common fonts are available, such as Mincho font, Kaisho font, Gothic font, Maru Gothic font, Gyosho font, etc., so choose the one that suits the purpose of the rubber stamp. If the engraving consists of two or more lines, you can change the font for each line.
4.Determine the engraving content
Decide what you want to be printed on the rubber stamp, such as the company address for an address stamp or the employee's name for a name stamp, and enter it in the order form. For example, when creating an address stamp, it is common to select the information to be engraved from the following information.
- post code
- address
- Company Name
- Representative's name
- Telephone
- FAX
- Homepage URL etc.
5. Place your order
After entering the necessary information in the order form, select whether or not to request proofreading confirmation and complete the order. If you request proofreading, it will take more time to place your order, but you can rest assured that you will avoid creating mistakes due to typos. If you want to place your order quickly, you may not need to request proofreading if the engraving is simple. However, please be sure to check for typos before ordering.
Frequently asked questions about rubber stamps
Here are some frequently asked questions about rubber stamp creation.
Q: What is the difference between a rubber stamp and a HANKO?
Rubber stamps have a stamp surface made of rubber, while HANKO are carved out of hard materials such as titanium or ivory. Another big difference is that rubber stamps use a stamp pad, and HANKO use vermilion.
Q: Can I use a rubber stamp as a registered seal or bank stamp?
Company stamps made of rubber stamps cannot be used as representative seals (corporate seals/office seals). The representative seal is an important HANKO that must be registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau, so make sure to use a highly durable HANKO. Additionally, rubber HANKO cannot be registered as bank stamps cannot be registered if the seal surface may deteriorate.
Q: Will the rubber stamp be deformed?
Rubber stamps have a stamp surface made of rubber, so with continued use, deterioration such as deformation can be seen. Also, use a water-based stamp pad when stamping rubber stamps, as using vermillion ink that contains oil can cause deterioration.
Q: What should I do if the rubber stamp gets dirty?
The more you use a rubber stamp, the more the stamp surface gets dirty, so be sure to clean it regularly by wiping it gently with a tissue. Be careful not to rub too hard as this will damage the stamp surface.
Q: How many days does it take to create a rubber stamp?
The number of days it takes to create a rubber stamp varies depending on the store, from the same day to a few days later for both physical stores and online stores. If anything, online shopping is more likely to offer same-day shipping, so if you need a rubber stamp in a hurry, online shopping may be the way to go.
Some physical stores also offer same-day service, so if you are in a hurry, we recommend that you consult with a store staff member.
summary
We introduced the outline, types, and precautions for using rubber stamps. Even though it is called a rubber stamp, it may be called by a common name depending on the company. I think there are many people who have used them without worrying too much about whether they are square stamps, data stamps, or rubber stamps. We hope that this article will help you understand the differences between stamps and use them conveniently.
