A stamping tool is provided including a base and a cover. The cover is removably affixed to the base through a hinging assembly. The base can include a first base hinge and a second base hinge substantially perpendicular to the first base hinge. The base hinges can be one or more hinge sections. The hinge sections can include a first wall and a second wall that can be biased to define a cavity that is accessible through a channel between the first wall and the second wall. Hinge sections can be separated by one or more receptacles. The cover can include one or more hinge bars corresponding to the hinge sections on the base. The hinge bars can have an unequal aspect ratio allowing for easy insertion and removal of the cover. The cover can also include one or more protrusions separating the hinge bars. These protrusions correspond to the receptacles on the base. A method of stamping an article is also included wherein the stamping tool is provided. The cover is placed in an open position relative to the base. A stamp is adhered to the bottom surface of the cover. The article to be stamped is placed on the top surface of the base. A quantity of ink is applied to the stamp and, as the cover is placed in a closed position, the stamp is brought into contact with the article thereby stamping the article with the ink.

A stamping tool accessory is disclosed herein. The stamping tool accessory includes a base configured to be removably attached to a base portion of a stamping platform; and a turntable rotatable relative to the base, the turntable configured to receive a substrate on which a stamp is to be applied. At least one of the base and the turntable includes turntable positioning indicia configured to indicate generally equally spaced-apart rotational positions of the turntable for stamping multiple images in a generally circular pattern. A stamping tool assembly that includes a stamping platform and the stamping tool accessory is also disclosed herein.

A stamping tool is provided including a base and a cover. The cover is removably affixed to the base through a hinging assembly. The base can include a first base hinge and a second base hinge substantially perpendicular to the first base hinge. The base hinges can be one or more hinge sections. The hinge sections can include a first wall and a second wall that can be biased to define a cavity that is accessible through a channel between the first wall and the second wall. Hinge sections can be separated by one or more receptacles. The cover can include one or more hinge bars corresponding to the hinge sections on the base. The hinge bars can have an unequal aspect ratio allowing for easy insertion and removal of the cover. The cover can also include one or more protrusions separating the hinge bars. These protrusions correspond to the receptacles on the base. A method of stamping an article is also included wherein the stamping tool is provided. The cover is placed in an open position relative to the base. A stamp is adhered to the bottom surface of the cover. The article to be stamped is placed on the top surface of the base. A quantity of ink is applied to the stamp and, as the cover is placed in a closed position, the stamp is brought into contact with the article thereby stamping the article with the ink.

A method of illuminating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

A stamp-face platemaking device transports a medium holder inserted into a plate insertion portion to a printing unit. The medium holder holds a stamp face material in a plate-like member, and has a predetermined pattern in a side end portion thereof. An optical sensor detects the top end portion of the medium holder on a sensor scanning line in the inserting direction, and the pattern start point and the pattern end point of the predetermined pattern. At least one of the horizontal and vertical sizes of the stamp face material is set based on the positions of two of the detected end portions. When the pattern end point is detected, platemaking with the stamp face material is started.

A stamp-face platemaking device transports a medium holder inserted into a plate insertion portion to a printing unit. The medium holder holds a stamp face material in a plate-like member, and has a predetermined pattern in a side end portion thereof. An optical sensor detects the top end portion of the medium holder on a sensor scanning line in the inserting direction, and the pattern start point and the pattern end point of the predetermined pattern. At least one of the horizontal and vertical sizes of the stamp face material is set based on the positions of two of the detected end portions. When the pattern end point is detected, platemaking with the stamp face material is started.

A seal carving apparatus includes a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements disposed in lines, and thermal drive control means that performs a control process of selectively and thermally driving the individual heat generating elements while moving the thermal head and a porous material in relative to each other with the thermal head being in abutment with the porous material, thereby forming a seal face on the porous material. The thermal drive control means controls a pulse time width for thermally driving the individual heat generating elements of the thermal head under pulse width modulation control based on gradation image data having a gradation value, thereby forming a seal with a gradation on the porous material.

A seal carving apparatus includes a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements disposed in lines, and thermal drive control means that performs a control process of selectively and thermally driving the individual heat generating elements while moving the thermal head and a porous material in relative to each other with the thermal head being in abutment with the porous material, thereby forming a seal face on the porous material. The thermal drive control means controls a pulse time width for thermally driving the individual heat generating elements of the thermal head under pulse width modulation control based on gradation image data having a gradation value, thereby forming a seal with a gradation on the porous material.

A method of transfer printing comprises globally heating an array of stamps, where each stamp comprises a shape memory polymer with a light absorbing agent dispersed therein, and pressing the array of stamps to a donor substrate comprising a plurality of inks. Each stamp is thereby compressed from an undeformed adhesion-off configuration to a deformed adhesion-on configuration. The array of stamps is then cooled to rigidize the shape memory polymer and bind the plurality of inks to the stamps in the deformed adhesion-on configuration. The plurality of inks remain bound to the stamps while the array of stamps is positioned in proximity with a receiving substrate. A selected stamp in the array is then locally heated using a concentrated light source. The selected stamp returns to the undeformed adhesion-off configuration, and the ink bound to the selected stamp is released and transfer printed onto the receiving substrate.

A seal carving apparatus includes a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements disposed in lines, and thermal drive control means that performs a control process of selectively and thermally driving the individual heat generating elements while moving the thermal head and a porous material in relative to each other with the thermal head being in abutment with the porous material, thereby forming a seal face on the porous material. The thermal drive control means controls a pulse time width for thermally driving the individual heat generating elements of the thermal head under pulse width modulation control based on gradation image data having a gradation value, thereby forming a seal with a gradation on the porous material.