If you’ve been making cards for a while, you’ve probably noticed that stamp designs come in two main formats: digital stamps (or “digis”) and physical stamps (clear or rubber). Each has its own charm, and choosing between them often depends on your crafting style, storage space, and budget.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of each, plus some tips on when you might want one over the other.
What Are Digital Stamps?
Digital stamps are downloadable image files, often in PNG or JPEG format, that you print at home. They work just like clip art, but are specifically designed for cardmakers and crafters. You can size them up or down, layer them with other images, and even store hundreds without taking up any physical space.
Pros of Digital Stamps:
- Instant delivery – No shipping costs or waiting for the mail.
- Easily resizable – Perfect for customizing to your card layout.
- Space-saving – Store thousands on your computer or cloud storage.
- Often budget-friendly – Many artists offer digis at a lower price than physical stamps.
- Great for layering & scene building – You can create your design digitally before you print. No need to mask images if one image needs to be on top of another saving you steps
- Clean non blotchy image without smudging which can happen with a physical stamp
- No need for a stamping tool or block
Cons of Digital Stamps:
- Requires a printer – One of the challenges with digital stamps is that you need a printer. Laser printers generally give the best results, especially if you’re coloring with alcohol markers. Inkjet printers can work too, but it depends on the type of ink cartridge, and the printed images usually need extra drying time. Also, another consideration is cardstock. You’ll want a cardstock that won’t bleed with markers, works well with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens (if you are using these), and can run through your printer without jamming.
- No physical stamping experience – You lose that tactile inking and stamping feel.
- There are no coordinating dies you can buy to cut the stamp out if you need to for the design of card or project you are making. This means you will either have to cut it out by hand, invest in a scan-n-cut machine to cut it out, or be limited to making a one layer card
- Limited techniques – Some inky effects such as heat embossing are impossible to do.
- Dependent on technology – You need a computer to download this stamps. If your computer crashes and you didn’t back up files or downloads are no longer available from the artist, they are gone.
What Are Physical Stamps?
Physical stamps come in two main types—clear photopolymer and red rubber—and are used with an acrylic block or stamping platform. You ink them up, press onto your paper, and reveal the design.
Pros of Physical Stamps:
- Hands-on feel – Many crafters love the tactile joy of stamping.
- Works with many techniques – Heat embossing, resist techniques, and watercoloring
- Durable and long-lasting – A good quality stamp can last decades if cleaned and stored properly.
- Crisp, high-quality impressions – This is especially true with detailed red rubber designs.
- Coordinating dies may be available for you to cut out the images easily
Cons of Physical Stamps:
- Storage space – Collections can take over drawers and shelves.
- Slower delivery – You have to wait for shipping.
- More expensive – Especially for large sets.
- Fixed size – You can’t resize an image like you can with digital.
When to Use Each
- Choose Digital when you want instant access, custom sizing, or to try a design without committing much space or money. Perfect for quick projects, last-minute cards, or experimenting with layouts.
- Choose Physical when you want to enjoy inky techniques, heat embossing, or the pure satisfaction of stamping by hand.
Can You Use Both? Absolutely.
Many cardmakers keep a mix in their stash: digital stamps for flexibility and quick access, and physical stamps for those tactile, technique-heavy projects. You might even combine them by printing a digi background and then layering stamped images on top for the best of both worlds.
Most of the stamps in my craft room are physical, but I’ve also collected quite a few digital stamps over the years. I first bought a few from Isabel Cristina before joining her design team, so it felt extra special to later have the chance to work with her designs. Along the way, I also designed for Rachelle Anne Miller and guest designed for Streamside Studios back when the owner, Shawne, offered only digital stamps. Later, when I joined her design team, she had expanded into physical stamps, and I got to work with those as well.
Digital stamps have always been fun to use, and I especially love the flexibility of being able to resize them for different projects. If you’d like to see some of the cards I’ve made, just click here or go to the “digital stamps” tag on the right-hand side of the blog.
Do you prefer digital or physical stamps, or do you mix and match? Share your experience in the comments. I’d love to hear your stamping style!
