Have you ever placed a stamp on your leather and wondered if it was positioned nice and squarely? 
We started Cliffeco Limited in 1989 as a design agency and the scope of our services increased over the years. Just over 10 years ago we started using high powered lasers to cut acrylics and soon developed new techniques to make embossing stamps using an extremely hard and durable industrial material, shortly followed by high speed CNC milling to make solid brass die and mallet stamps.
We now combine our creative, illustration and technical skills to offer a bespoke service making embossing stamps, designing cutting templates and actually cutting leather - which we can do to an extremely detailed level. This website concentrates on our embossing stamps. If you are UK based and are interested in our other services we'd love to hear from you, so please contact us.
WILL IT STAMP? Check it out here before you buy your stamp!
Forget the old restrictions!
One of Barefoot Leather's customers wanted a purse featuring a 3.5 inch diameter stamp featuring the Eye of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings. No problem - we obtained a cryllic font and made up the bespoke artwork you see here. We then emailed him a PDF proof which he then sent to his customer for approval then made the stamp, which was received very enthusiastically!
We can produce stamps to any size and shape and as flat die stamps if you have a press (eg arbor press or hydraulic press) or as a mallet stamp if you don't. We make them from high impact acetal if you are using vegetable tanned leathers or in brass for other harder types of leather.
All our acetal stamps are approximately 1/2 inch (12mm ) thick, which is ideal for all presses.
How to order custom stamps
Please email your specific requirements to us:
nick@artisans.co.uk
The info you provide should include the following:
1. Your full contact details
2. The height and width of the stamp you want
3. The shape of the stamp, including whether you want it cutting around the design shape (see the skull image in the column on the left as an example)
4. Whatever reference materials you can provide us with as an attachment. IMPORTANT: Please do not 'mirror/reverse' your image as we do that as part of the production process to ensure your stamped impression in the leather is exactly like the artwork you supplied!
We can accept artwork files in most formats but prefer .pdf, .tif, .png, .psd, .ai, .eps, .cdr - or you can post your reference materials and artwork to us at the address below. Try to avoid jpeg files as the compression used crates very jaggy edges so not good for making a quality stamp.
All our work is bespoke so we require payment in full before commencing any orders, no matter how large or small your business is.
See our Price Guide for Biscuit / Plate Stamps
See our Price Guide for Hand / Mallet Stamps
Embossing or Debossing?
Debossing and embossing are similar processes that create a different result. Both processes involve making a graphic plate and counter. The plate is mounted on a press and the paper is stamped between the plate and counter. This force of pressure pushes the stock into the plate creating the impression. Embossing creates a raised impression on stock – pushes the image above the level of the paper. Debossing is the reverse of embossing. Debossing creates a depressed impression on stock – pushes the image below the level of the paper.
However most people never use the term 'deboss' and to them embossing means stamping the design down into the leather. So call 'em embossing stamps too, as that's what everybody understands!! Apologies in advance to all you pedants out there :)
Copyright information
1. If you provide artwork that you have copyright for then there will be no artwork charge for making the stamp and it will not be offered to anyone else. When you provide us with artwork to create a custom stamp, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate permissions to use all elements (for example brand logos) within the artwork - we cannot be held responsible if you infringe anybody else's copyright.
2. If you want us to create a design and artwork for a custom stamp, we will quote on an individual basis. Any elements we add that we hold copyright on can not be made exclusive to that customer unless by specific and fee based agreement; artisans.co.uk reserve the right to display the design in our completed projects portfolio unless otherwise agreed. If a customer wants total exclusivity on a design we create then that may be granted on the proviso that they agree to the negotiated exclusivity fee based on the complexity of the design and artwork.
If any of the elements used in the design are from the public domain, exclusivity cannot be granted. Sorry about all the legal stuff, but it is vitally important not to infringe copyright law.