Today, the management and white-collar employees with the virtual stamp-making process think of stamps as just an online tool used for a document verification; but it was not in earlier days. Stamp Making has a history mid the ancient times and rubber & virtual stamps are fairly new inventions in this process.
What is Stamp Making?
A stamp is a small piece of rubber that has some design or letter on it which you can put over any document. An imprint, for among other things to prove an agreement or branding every direct mail. Historically, these tools had to be rallied for by creating physical rubber stamps and physically pressing them onto paper using ink.
Rubber Stamps
Now the tale of such rubber stamps is nothing other than concurrent with that history of elastics. Rubber is obtained from rubber plants that live in tropical regions, and its Mesoamerican application can be traced back to the time of early cultures. Brazil was the Hevea plant king in 1800s due to a vast rubber export stream. By the end of 1800s, rubber was already cultivated in other locations too — places such India that is still producing a lot until nowadays.
In the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations, only used rubber already before they Europeans knew it. The first known scientific record of rubber was by the French explorer Charles Marie de la Condamine who, during his 1736 return trip to Paris from South America, presented a paper to the Académie Royale des Sciences on an odd substance that came from Lazaro Zipaquiráquotes’ place in Ecuador.
If you hear the name Goodyear, for most people that means tires. But the big break came thanks to Charles Goodyear’s vulcanized rubber, discovered in 1839. Vulcanization is a process which adds chemicals like sulfur to rubber, making it stronger. Goodyear stumbled upon this when he accidentally dropped a piece of rubber onto a hot stove. By 1844, he had created the process and obtained a U.S. patent for it Rubber before was so sticky, when it gets hot would melt that even if used to make a stamp may harm the impression.
Due to the difficult in acquiring natural rubber from Asia after World War II, synthetic rubber made from oil and natural gas become more prevalent. Today, over half of all rubber is synthetic and the rest originates from plantations in Thailand, Indonesia or Malaysia.
The history of the rubber stamp is a little murky, and it appears that several people independently arrived at the idea. Interestingly, three inventors in the U.S. each filed for a patent on their rubber stamp invention around the mid-1860s.
The modern rubber stamp was the brainchild of James Orton Woodruff from New York. Somewhere between 1864 and 1866, he came across rubber stamped mailing stamps printed in printer’s ink. Woodruff later refined this design with vulcanized rubber as a support bushing.
Credit to scrapbook.com
Day rubber stamps came to be due in part by the longevity and being able to keep them personalized. Though the most principle remains–of applying ink to a rubber sheet and then stamping that image onto paper–the process differs in many ways.
In a world of sales and marketing documentation, modern stamp-making also: Current utilization: stamps are utilized for official function (to verify records) and to assist brands as well as the branding of things.
Types of Rubber Stamps
1. Pre-Inked Stamps: These stamps include the ink which is preloaded in them so you do not need an external stamp pad. They are clean, impressions very thick and crisp.
2. Self-Inking Stamps : As the name suggests, these stamps have an in-built ink pad which re-inks the rubber after each stamp. They are optimal for situations that would require frequent stamping.
3. Modern Self-Inking Stamps: These newer kind of stamps come with their own in-built ink pad
4.Traditional Rubber Stamps: These require a separate ink pad. The unique look of these can fit perfectly into your custom designs.
5. Address Stamps: Intended for the marking of addresses with an envelope or document to assist you in speeding up your mailings.
At least not before the modern technology – they were heaven sent.
Evolution of Stamp Making
It is a vast improvement from the way we used to make rubber stamps. Aforementioned process have come a long way right from the manual methods till date which is advanced to automated systems so obviously it suggests that there’s a lot change in the technological and business horizons. During the progression of modern technology, virtual stamps came about and offered an alternative solution to documentation without having to rely upon physical stamped paper.
Virtual Stamps
A virtual stamp is a digital, online version of the regular postage stamps. Using a stamp online: Instead of paper and ink, virtual stamps are used to affix the document.
These are meant to mirror the functionality of traditional stamps — such as putting signatures, stab marks or other types digitally onto electronic papers. The push to modern solutions led this transition, happening in a paperless office environment.
With the COVID–19 outburst in 2019, an escalated desire to have documents verified and authenticated virtually gave birth to Virtual stamps. Although these digital stamps looked like old fashion regular postage stamps they were virtually instantaneous to create, purchase and have made available for use.
Then, digital stamps progressed as technology improved. The latest ones are part of digital workflows, including automatic stamping, integration into document management systems and a high level of security with blockchain.
How Virtual Stamps Are Created and Used
Digital Stamps can be crafted with digital stamp-making software such as StampJam. Create one here.
You can then use these stamps on documents. Virtual stamps come in a variety of sizes and can include different components like text, logos or signatures that would be personalized for businesses.
Fairly similarly to how paper stamps work, digital stamps where you can upload the documents online and then use the stamp. This makes it possible to perform stamping instantaneously and without physical materials. Step 6: Now, you can save the stamp for future use and even share it with your friends or print copies of them.
What is the Difference Between Rubber Stamps and Online Stamps?
Both the traditional rubber stamp and a virtual representation of that function as stamps, but they are designed for two very different environments. Let’s take a look.
1. Ease of use: The convenience side will be a high score for online stamps as they reduce physical storage and (clean) up. Entry level stamps – Requires ink pad and rubber stamp maintenance
Both types distinguish themselves by the option of customization, but virtual stamps give you a wider range to change and updated design fascicles.
2. Price: Using online stamps mean no more paying for expensive ink and replacement parts. More ink pads and maintenance may be required for rubber stamps.
The formal is cost-effective
3. Environmental Impact: Instead of using materials, virtual stamps are more environmentally friendly.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Virtual Stamps
Advantages
1. Efficiency: This is achieved by removing manual handling as well as e-mail delivery of documents hence document processing is made efficient.
2. Cost-Effective: The costs of ink and physical stamps for maintenance are lowered hence the use of these stamps becomes cheaper.
3. Flexibility: You can easily customize and update virtual stamps without any physical limitations.
Disadvantages
1. Technology Dependent: Users need to use digital tools and platforms and they must feel at ease while doing that.
2. Security Concerns: If online stamps are not properly managed, online security and authenticity can be threats to its use.
It’s possible through StampJam to get rid of these issues. We offer a secure web application and an easy-to-use interface for you.
Virtual Stamp-Making Platforms
Numerous platforms are stacking up with virtual stamp alternatives thus meeting business standards.
1. StampJam: The best option for stamp creation; adding stamps became more straightforward via this tool.
2. DocuSign: This platform concentrates on electronic signatures, yet it also allows you to integrate stamps into your documents.
3. Adobe Acrobat: Adobe Acrobat contains tools that enable one to create and use stamps on their PDFs.
Impact of Stamp Making on Sales and Marketing
The contemporary stamp-making process has led to modern sales as well as marketing documentation being faster and more efficient than before. Furthermore, they align with the growing trend towards digital software; hence helping companies minimize paperwork while enhancing document management systems. Paperless offices can benefit from the current methods of producing stamps in addition to better productivity levels and lower expenses.
Conclusion
The evolution of stamp creation from archaic rubber stamps to state-of-the-art virtual ones is a testimony to how technology and business operations have also progressed. In addition to being more efficient, virtual stamps have less cost. Online stamps will be an integral part of contemporary documentation as organizations embrace digital means.
P.S. Is your document creation process still too complicated? Try out our virtual stamp software and create personalized stamps for yourself!
B2B/B2C SaaS Content Writer. I’ve assisted over 10 SaaS brands in creating high-quality content that educates, sells and grow their audience.
