Paw Print Capture  Instructions

Highly detailed, accurate print captures for your engraving is something I take great pleasure to provide for you.

If your local I have all the materials needed to capture prints of any pet or animal you work with.

To capture high quality prints of any animal, the materials you will need are: non dry clay (white), stamp ink, paper, and lastly a photograph for reference.

5 pound --- amount for your average horse footprint or 4 dog prints           
Link   https://www.michaels.com/product/45lb-white-plastalina-modeling-clay-by-craft-smart-10772124

Larger animals like horses may need more clay. Note, this version of clay is the type you will need for optimal capture details, you may get some of the same type locally for less.

If you live in a hot climate in summer of 80 plus degrees, clay that hardens may be required to survive mail travel without melting.

Link:  Hardening clay kit, average dog or smaller pets need 1 kit per paw, large dogs need 2 kits, average horses need 3 kits and large horses need 4 kits.

Stamp ink pad can be picked up at your local store along with printer paper, horses  recommend 11x14paper.

The non hardening clay gets softer with heat, for dogs or other padded animals it is best to get the clay very soft. heavier animals or ones with hooves don't need as soft of clay.

To get the clay warm / soft, I put in a thick plastic bag and put it by the heater or in my car come summer. For quick warmth i will then put it in the microwave (no paper underneath) turning it over every 2 minutes until desired softness.  If the surface becomes liquid like, just wait a few minutes and it will be to a nice soft clay.

To capture:

Be sure to clean the animals foot well.  If you have a zoo animal and are not able to clean the foot, putting the clay in a narrow path with food incentive works well for overall shape and may have great details as well.

After cleaning, I then ink the paw pad if the animal allows to give a better paw print profile

Next the pet or animal needs to stand on the clay, to help get the print deeper lifting up the opposite leg of the animal will place weight on the paw being captured and make it harder for them to move.

This process will capture the proper displacement and the natural footprint you see in nature.  If you make a mistake you can reuse the clay until satisfied.

Each foot has its own unique print, some you may like better then others, or capture all prints.

Below photos are looking to achieve.   Reindeer print which was uncooperative at first.

Below are examples of the same dog between front to rear prints, so be sure to select the one you want or capture prints.

Next if mailing, or using hooved animals, you will need the prints on paper, this is usually the hardest to obtain with some pets or animals.  The process is the same as the clay, only its best to get multiple prints of each foot you want engraved as each print will have slightly different details.   For horses or other hoof type animals, its best to put the clay wrapped in plastic under the paper, or a soft  thick foam or something that can compress in order to capture the details fully.  Paper prints with are greatly displaced with padded paw prints and appear larger spread as you can see comparing the paper print to the clay print above. Note that even "bad"  ink prints can have good data i can use, so do include the mistakes or not so good prints as well as good prints.

Before mailing clay prints, please send me a photo of the prints and a overall print width of the clay print in mm in case there is any shipping damage. (shouldn't occur if properly packed and padded)

For mailing, flat rate boxes work best. It is also best to place a layer of cardboard on top of the clay print and heavily pad the box with bubble wrap or soft foam.

Mailing address is:

Glenn Zisa (Alaskan Lapidary)
P.O. Box 2801
Palmer, AK 99645

A proof template will be made and sent for approval before any engraving is commenced.