Most people are surprised to learn that you can create your own custom postage stamps. Even more surprising to some is the fact that the custom stamps you design are perfectly legal to use for mailing letters or packages. Photo stamps are particularly popular. Everyone loves to see their own picture on a stamp — it just makes you feel a bit like royalty.
So if designing your own custom postage stamp sounds like a project you could get into, consider these points before you get started:
Custom postage is available in several different amounts, from standard $.39 postage stamps to $.24 postcard stamps. A custom photo stamp will enable you to use a personal picture on your postage. It could be a picture of yourself, or a family member, a pet, or even a newborn baby. Holiday photos are also a very popular choice, but your options are only limited by your imagination.
The process of designing your stamp is easy and doesn’t take very long. Here’s basically how it works:
There are nearly a dozen companies online that offer custom postage stamps in association with the post office. Make sure the company you choose is certified by the USPS to create usable stamps. There are a few companies online creating “novelty” stamps, but be warned, these are not valid for regular postage.
Remember to look for the USPS logo to be sure you’re getting “real” stamps that that you can use on any letter or parcel.
The next step in creating a custom stamp is to locate an image or photo to use. The photo will need to be in a digital format on your computer. This is not normally a problem, because digital cameras are commonplace, and transferring a picture to your PC is as easy as plugging in a USB cable and clicking one button.
Once your picture is on the computer, you can choose to edit it before it is used on your stamp. Photoshop and other image editing software are ideal for this task, but you can find less expensive or freeware solutions as well.
Now, you are ready to upload your picture to the postage web site. This is an easy process, and online help is usually available in case you should get stuck. Once your picture has been successfully uploaded to the site, you will have several alternatives about how the photo should be used on your stamp.
Let your imagination run wild, and choose a stamp design that is unique. Part of the enjoyment of having custom postage stamps is in the creative process. Have fun with it, and express your true personality.
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