A method of manufacturing a patterned stamp (100) for patterning a contoured surface (10) is disclosed. The method comprises providing a pliable stamp layer (120) carrying a pattern of features (122), forcing the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface with said pattern of features facing the contoured surface; applying a fluid support layer (130) over the pliable stamp layer on the contoured surface; solidifying the support layer (140) to form the patterned stamp; and removing the patterned stamp from the contoured surface. A corresponding patterned stamp, imprinting method and imprinted article are also disclosed.

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.