Tampograph

A tampograph is a printed graphic image produced by a specific printing process called tampography.

Tampography
Tampography, also called pad printing or sometimes tampo printing, combines rubber stamping and offset printing. The desired image is etched into a metal plate. This plate, also known as a cliché, has the image lines sunken into its surface. They are said to be in negative relief. Ink is deposited into these lines; the excess wiped away, and then a rubber pad or tampon is pressed against the plate to pick up the image. The pad is then pressed against the surface to be decorated, leaving the image behind.

Because of the precision of the metal plate and the flexibility of the rubber pad, this process can produce very finely detailed images on irregular surfaces. Furthermore, the process is well-suited to mass production. Most graphics on toys such as Transformers and die-cast cars are tampographed.