Methods of making multi-color ink stamps

A method at making a multi-color ink stamp, the method comprising:

• providing a first porous structure having a top surface;
• a bottom surface porous edges extending between said top and bottom surfaces and micropores exposed at said porous edges;
• loading a first ink into said first porous structure;
• exposing the top surface of said first porous structure to energy to form a stamp pattern including non-porous areas and porous areas;
• providing a second porous structure having a top surface a bottom surface, porous edges extending between said top and bottom surfaces and micropores exposed at said porous edges of said second porous structure;
• loading a second ink into said second porous structure;
• applying energy to one of said porous edges of said first porous structure to close the micropores exposed at the one of said porous edges to form an edge having a non-porous surface;
• and
• assembling said first porous structure with said second porous structure so that said edge having the non-porous surface is in direct contact with one of the edges of said second porous structure,
• the non-porous edge of said first porous structure having a first pattern and the one of the edges of said second porous structure in direct contact with the non-porous edge having a second pattern that matches the first pattern, the first pattern having a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions, the second pattern having a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions, the projections of the first pattern matching corresponding depressions of the second pattern, the projections of the second pattern matching corresponding depressions of the first pattern,
• the assembling step including interlocking the first patterned edge of said first porous structure with the second patterned edge of said second porous structure, wherein said first and second porous structures can be assembled together in only one configuration.

A method of making an ink stamp, the method comprising:

• providing a first porous structure adapted to carry ink, said first porous structure having a top surface, a bottom surface and porous edges extending between said top and bottom surfaces;
• providing a second porous structure adapted to carry ink, said second porous structure having a top surface, a bottom surface and porous edges extending between said top and bottom surfaces;
• applying energy to the top surfaces of said first and second porous structures to form stamp patterns including non-porous areas and porous areas;
• applying energy to one of the porous edges of said first and second porous structures so that one of the edges of said first and second porous structures has a non-porous surface;
• and
• assembling said first porous structure with said second porous structure so that the edge having the non-porous surface is in direct contact with one of the edges of one of said first and second porous structures,
• the non-porous edge of said first porous structure having a first pattern and the one of the edges of said second porous structure in direct contact with the non-porous edge having a second pattern that matches the first pattern, the first pattern having a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions, the second pattern having a plurality of projections and a plurality of depressions, the projections of the first pattern matching corresponding depressions of the second pattern, the projections of the second pattern matching corresponding depressions of the first pattern,
• the assembling step including interlocking the first patterned edge of said first porous structure with the second patterned edge of said second porous structure, wherein said first end second porous structures can be assembled together in only one configuration.