The Making of a Stamp at Postado
Using the example of the new stamps for the Augsburg Zoo anniversary by LMF-PostService.
The graphic department of the Augsburg Zoo, after coordinating with Postado's prepress, created a PDF with the correct technical specifications and sent it to Postado. More details about data creation can be found in the leaflet catalog on pages 50-53 or here.
A version of this description for children and teenagers from 10 years can be found here.
Designing a Stamp Sheet
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Postado recommends creating a stamp sheet of approximately 20 x 12 cm, as this format can be easily sent in a DIN-long envelope even in thicker stacks. To use a standard die-cutting form, it is necessary to arrange the stamps with a 5 mm spacing between them. LMF-Postservice selected the format 40.8 x 30.8 mm for the stamps. More details on possible formats can be found on www.postado.de in the leaflet catalog page 54. LMF-Postservice opted for a tear-off perforation to easily separate individual stamps from the sheet. Blocks for 5 different value levels are created in the same way, to be produced on self-adhesive material.
The Prepress
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The prepress and a high-end RIP check whether everything in the PDF files is correctly set for offset printing standards. All measurements must be 100% adhered to and checked to exactly match the rigid die-cut form. Colors, resolution and quality of images, font embedding, correct house colors of LMF, positioning of the stamps, and much more are checked. After the proofing and RIP process, which generates a flat 1-bit TIFF that the plate setter can burn, LMF receives the file again for final approval. This digital approval, handled via email, was accompanied by a contract proof which accurately represents the color impression of the offset print, providing a good preview.
The Printing Plate
The files are okay, approval is granted, and the print data is prepared. Now the four printing plates for cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow, and black can be produced. The plate setter is an environmentally friendly thermal setter for direct plates, saving a lot of energy, water, and chemicals. The image to be printed is lasered by a strong laser in the setter. The printing plates are washed out in the printing machine. The image part remains and is then grease-friendly, where the greasy printing ink adheres. The rest of the plate is bare aluminum and thus water-friendly. The offset printing process is based on the repulsion of grease and water.
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The Printing Process
The printing plates are clamped into the machine and take the ink on the grease-friendly areas, transferring it to a rubber blanket and then onto the paper. The printing blanket acts as an intermediary due to its soft nature compared to the hard and rough material of the cylinder. The alignment of the colors and the amount of ink are adjusted at the control panel, with sheets being pulled for inspection under standard light and densitometer measurements to ensure adherence to standard values for future reprints.
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Numbering
After drying for at least 24 hours, the sheets are halved for the next machine. The numbering is done with numbering machines (instead of a printing plate), moving one number forward with each stamp. This is done with the entire print run.
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Die-Cutting
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The Heidelberg platen press is used for die-cutting. A gripper takes each sheet, pressing it with several tons of pressure against the die-cutting form. The stamps are die-cut to easily separate from the carrier, with a tear-off perforation in the middle for LMF-Postservice to easily separate the individual stamps.
Finishing
After die-cutting, the final trim is done. The paper is stacked in a gluing station and pressed. Glue is applied to the top, dried, and the stack is divided into blocks of 50 sheets, with a start and end sheet.
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Stamp Perforation Machine
LMF-Postservice also ordered gummed decorative sheets. The process is similar to self-adhesive stamps. A perforation machine punches holes into the paper using rigid combs with steel needles. After perforation, the sheet is divided and numbered, followed by the final trim.
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First Day Cover
The production is similar to self-adhesive stamps, including numbering and scoring for easy folding. Some of the first day covers are hand-stamped with the new stamps.
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Information
This description covers one of the possible production paths through our print shop, depending on quantity, motif, and format. For understandable reasons, we have not covered all controls and security measures in the stamps. Unauthorized copies of the text, images, or extracts are prohibited. Linking to Postado or LMF-Postservice is allowed.
© POSTADO © LMF-Postservice
A male stamp experienced
Something beautiful before it stuck.
He was licked by a princess.
Then love awakened in him.
He wanted to kiss her again,
Then he had to travel.
So he loved her in vain.
That is the tragedy of life.
(Joachim Ringelnatz)