My Gallery: [link]

Feel free to edit any of my stamps in any way you please, and have fun.


There are many different kinds of stamps. Once I get this text sorted I'll explain a few of them. The main difference being the format you save the stamp in. Each format, such as PNG, GIF, PSD, has its own unique purpose and abilities.


----GUIDE TO BASIC IMAGE FORMATS:----
The format of the image is identified by the three letters at the end of its name. These three letters are called the File Extension. Here are the basic formats...
1. PNG: Big file size, not as big as BMP, and very nice clean image. Lossless as far as I know. I use this for stamps because it can be translucent. No layers are allowed as far as I know.
2. GIF: Only 256 or lower colors can be used, but can be animated. This is popular for animated Internet banners. Nice low file size. In a GIF, only one color can be transparent, allowing the background to show through that one color you select.
3. JPG: The most popular because of very small file size, but your image becomes slightly distorted, depending on the level of space-saving compression you use. I would say 98% of dA images are JPG format. This is the format digital cameras use.
4. BMP: Obscenely huge file size, but perfect image clarity. No compression, so it's nice for clean desktop wallpapers. Windows prefers BMP for wallpaper.
5. PSD: Photoshop format. The image editing format, which can contain many things such as layers, transparencies, and selections. Web browsers do NOT understand PSD, because of its complexities. In-progress art images are stored in PSD. I don't know much else about PSD. Some of the art on dA shows up as a JPG or PNG but when you click "Download" it downloads the art in PSD format. Only some graphics programs can open PSD, and even less can edit PSD.

This stamp is PNG format, not PSD.
The reason to download a PSD format stamp, is that they contain layers, so you can place your stamp text underneath the glossy layer. Giving a far more polished effect over the text.

This is a blank stamp template, for you to place text and logo's.

Make sure when you submit the image that it is compatible for DeviantArt. PNG seems to work, along with the infamous PSD.

PNG and PSD both allow for transparencies on the image. This allows you to see the background through designated parts of the image. Such as the spiky stamp border.

Get the edges of the stamp TRANSPARENT. This is what makes it a stamp. When you upload the stamp, the "Add a File" preview area will show you that your stamp has transparent edges, because it'll place a blue background behind the stamp.

Let me know if I did anything wrong, I'm pretty new to stamp making.

Most stamp previews are PNG format, while the download file is Photoshop PSD format. The reason for this is Deviantart doesn't understand PSD files, and needs a preview image which is the PNG. Many graphics programs don't understand PSD. I don't use PSD files, I simply upload the file as a PNG(Typo Fixed) so i wont have to use a preview file. This makes it easier on me and you. But, PNG doesn't allow layers as far as I know. This means my stamp templates don't allow you to place the text underneath the glossy layer.

You may notice there is no black edging on the border of this stamp. At the moment I prefer this, but I'll play with adding black edging so the stamp will stand out for users who have a WHITE background on their profile page.

Update: Upon review of the nicer stamps on dA, I boldly prefer the shiny stamps with a light glare over the text. Giving you this stamp template in PNG format won't allow for layers. I'll have to install Photoshop and learn all the new features...Something I've been avoiding. It is time.

Update: My next stamp template will be PSD format, so you'll be able to use layers, the top layer being a shiny glass effect, and the bottom layer being the stamp. You can place the text between the glass and the stamp. As far as I know, only PSD is popular enough for many graphics programs to understand having layers. There are a large number of graphics programs that simply don't do layers. I think TheGimp does, and it's free. I may have to use this to save the image!

And you, beloved viewer, may need to learn Photoshop, if you want to do fancier things.