Self-inking stamps use water-based ink in a built-in pad, MaxLight and Slim pre-inked stamps hold oil-based ink in the die, and wood handle stamps need a separate stamp pad that takes any ink color. ESS sells that pad in eight sizes, from 1-1/2 x 2-3/4 in. to 9-1/4 x 12-1/4 in. This guide covers ink by stamp type, pad sizes and the ink colors each product lists.
Engineer Seal Stamps product desk. Checked against ESS product pages and order options. Sources read September 2026.
Which ink does each type of stamp take?
The mount decides the ink. The stamp comparison chart on ESS custom stamp pages lists water-based ink only for self-inking mounts, oil-based ink only for the Slim, PSI and MaxLight mounts, which hold ink in the die, and any ink color for the regular wood handle stamp.
| Stamp type | Where the ink sits | Ink it takes | Glossy paper | Cloth or fabric | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular wood handle | A separate stamp pad, bought apart from the stamp | Any ink color | Yes, with a special ink | Yes, with a special ink | ESS stamp comparison chart |
| Plastic self-inker | A pad built into the stamp body | Water-based only | No | Only the cloth marker model | ESS stamp comparison chart |
| Trodat Professional | A pad built into the metal frame body | Water-based only | No | No | ESS stamp comparison chart |
| Slim | No pad; the die plate absorbs the ink | Oil-based only | No | No | ESS stamp comparison chart |
| PSI | No pad; the die plate absorbs the ink | Oil-based only | No | No | ESS stamp comparison chart |
| MaxLight | No pad; the die plate absorbs the ink | Oil-based only | No | No | ESS stamp comparison chart |
For long runs, the chart rates self-inkers excellent at repeated stamping and the wood stamp good. It also warns that a pre-inked die needs its ink to rejuvenate after several impressions in a row.
What kind of stamp pad does ESS sell?
ESS sells stand-alone stamp pads in eight sizes for wood handle stamps. Self-inking stamps carry a pad built into the stamp body, and pre-inked stamps hold their ink in the die, so neither takes a separate pad.
A stand-alone stamp pad, or ink pad, is the separate pad you press a wood handle stamp into before each impression. Pages for seven of the eight sizes describe the pad as cloth. The PAD-10 ships dry, and the wood handle order menu also offers a dry pad as one of its choices.
Why do MaxLight and Slim stamps work without a pad?
Their ink lives in the die itself, and the comparison chart lists them as oil-based only. MaxLight XL2 and Slim or Super Slim pages list five ink colors: black, blue, green, purple and red. Slim pre-inked stamps are rated for up to 25,000 impressions.
What pad and ink go with a wood handle stamp?
A wood handle stamp holds no ink and ships without a pad, so it needs a separate stamp pad. Its order menu offers a #0 or #1 pad inked in red, blue, green, black or purple, or the same pad dry with no ink in it.
The product copy says a wood stamp works with any ink color and with special inks, and the chart rates it for glossy paper and for cloth or fabric when a special ink is used. No other mount in the chart gets a yes for glossy paper, and the chart does not name the special ink. To order a custom wood stamp from start to finish, follow the custom stamp ordering guide.
Which ink suits Mylar, labels or photo paper?
Quick Drying Rubber Stamp Ink, also called Indexing Ink. Its product page describes it as waterproof and lists Mylar, chrome-coated labels and resin-coated photographic paper among the surfaces it holds to. The page says the marks resist fading and smudging, and that the ink meets U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for food packaging use.
Use it with a wood handle stamp and a dry stamp pad, so the special ink is not mixed with a pad's factory color. The chart rates only the wood handle stamp for glossy paper and for cloth or fabric when a special ink is used.
What stamp pad sizes does ESS sell?
ESS sells stand-alone stamp pads in eight sizes: rubber stamp ink pads 00, 0, 1, 2 and 3, and industrial pads 10, 12 and LT. They run from 1-1/2 x 2-3/4 in. for the PAD-00 to 9-1/4 x 12-1/4 in. for the PAD-LT.
| Pad | Size (inches) | Pad material | Ink as the page describes it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAD-00 | 1-1/2 x 2-3/4 | Not listed | Five colors named: red, blue, black, green, violet | PAD-00 product page |
| PAD-0 | 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 | Cloth | Not listed | PAD-0 product page |
| PAD-1 | 2-3/4 x 4-1/4 | Cloth | Color choices mentioned | PAD-1 product page |
| PAD-2 | 3-1/4 x 6-1/4 | Cloth | Color options mentioned | PAD-2 product page |
| PAD-3 | 4-1/2 x 7-1/4 | Cloth | Not listed | PAD-3 product page |
| PAD-10 | 6 x 8 | Cloth | Ships dry with no ink; ink is a separate purchase | PAD-10 product page |
| PAD-12 | 6 x 12 | Cloth | Not listed | PAD-12 product page |
| PAD-LT | 9-1/4 x 12-1/4 | Cloth | Not listed; the page says it is built for extra large stamps | PAD-LT product page |
The PAD-10 page says the pad ships dry, so order ink with it. Browse the stand-alone pads in the stamping ink pads collection.
How do you match a stamp pad to the size of your stamp?
Only wood handle stamps need a separate pad, so sizing starts with the die size of your wood stamp. The ESS pages checked for this guide set no pad-to-die rule, so compare your die's width and length with the pad dimensions in the table above.
Two published figures frame the choice. The wood handle order menu offers a #0 or #1 size pad, the same size numbers as the PAD-0 (2-1/4 x 3-1/2 in.) and PAD-1 (2-3/4 x 4-1/4 in.). At the top end, the chart gives 8 x 10 in. as the largest wood handle size, and the PAD-LT is the only one of the eight pads that is larger than 8 x 10 in. on both sides.
To find the plate size of a stamp by model, use the ESS stamp size chart.
What ink colors do ESS stamps and pads list?
Color lists depend on the product. Trodat Printy and Ideal stamps list 11 ink colors, MaxLight and Slim stamps list five, and the wood handle pad add-on comes in five colors or dry.
- Trodat Printy and Ideal self-inkers, round Printy models included: black, blue, brown, burgundy, green, mint green, orange, pink, purple, red and yellow.
- MaxLight XL2, Slim and Super Slim: black, blue, green, purple and red.
- Wood handle pad add-on: red, blue, green, black or purple, or dry.
- PAD-00 stamp pad: red, blue, black, green and violet.
Pick the ink color on the order page for the stamp you are buying, since each mount's menu lists its own choices.
Which ink works best for rubber stamp pads?
The stamp decides first: self-inking stamps take water-based ink only, pre-inked stamps take oil-based ink only, and only a wood handle stamp uses a separate pad, which accepts any ink. Where a record is regulated, the rule asks for permanence or a set color, for example a Texas engineer seal must leave a permanent ink image (22 Tex. Admin. Code § 137.31(c)) and a Florida notary must stamp in photographically reproducible black ink (Fla. Stat. § 117.05(3)(a)).
No general rule sets an ink for ordinary business stamping. The rules below apply only to the seals and notarial details they name.
| Stamp or record | Ink rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas professional engineer seal | Must leave a permanent ink image or permanent impression on the engineering work. | 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 137.31(c) |
| Florida professional engineer wet seal | Must leave a permanent ink representation or other opaque permanent impression. | Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G15-23.002(1)(a) |
| Florida notary seal | Rubber stamp seal in photographically reproducible black ink. | Fla. Stat. § 117.05(3)(a) |
| Massachusetts notary seal | Black ink whenever the seal uses ink. | M.G.L. c. 222, § 8 |
| Texas notary seal | An inked impression needs an indelible ink pad, and the seal must reproduce legibly by photographic methods. | Tex. Gov't Code § 406.013; Secretary of State |
| New York notary details | Name, "Notary Public State of New York," county and commission expiration date go beneath the signature in black ink. | N.Y. Exec. Law § 137 |
| California notary seal | Must be photographically reproducible when affixed to a document. | Gov. Code § 8207; Secretary of State handbook |
For a regulated seal, pick a stamp whose ink meets the rule, then match the pad to the stamp as the sections above describe.
Where do notaries and inspectors find ink color guidance?
In the guides written for those stamps. Notary ink requirements are covered state by state in the notary seal requirements guide, and inspection stamp ink is covered in the inspection and quality control stamp guide. The block above gives a sample of the rules; those guides cover every state.
The mount rules above still apply to those stamps. A pre-inked notary or inspection stamp holds oil-based ink in its die, a self-inking one carries its own built-in pad, and a wood handle one needs a separate stamp pad.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ink pad the same thing as a stamp pad?
ESS uses both names for the same kind of product. The smaller sizes are titled Rubber Stamp Ink Pad, and the larger ones Industrial Rubber Stamp Pad or Industrial Large Stamp Pad.
Which stamps need a separate stamp pad?
Only wood handle stamps. A self-inking stamp has a pad built into its body, and Slim, PSI and MaxLight pre-inked stamps hold oil-based ink in the die.
What does a dry stamp pad do?
It lets you use a special ink without mixing it with a factory color. The PAD-10 ships dry, and the wood handle order menu offers a dry pad as one of its choices.
Which stamp works on glossy paper or cloth?
The wood handle stamp, used with a special ink. It is the only mount the ESS comparison chart rates for glossy paper, and it is rated for cloth or fabric as well.
What size stamp pad fits my wood handle stamp?
Pick a pad the die fits inside. The eight sizes run from 1-1/2 x 2-3/4 in. for the PAD-00 to 9-1/4 x 12-1/4 in. for the PAD-LT, and the wood handle order menu offers the #0 and #1 sizes.
Does any law say what ink a seal or notary stamp must use?
Some do, for specific seals. Florida and Massachusetts require black ink for notary seals, New York requires black ink for the notary details printed under the signature, and Texas asks for a permanent ink image on an engineer seal. Ordinary office stamps carry no ink rule.
Have your wood stamp's die size ready and choose a pad from the ESS stamping ink pads collection.
