Stamp Analyser Operation.

Inputting Images into the Stamp Analyser

On Mac and PC,  Simply drag and drop your stamp image into the area labeled “Drag & Drop Image Here.”, Images can be dragged directly from a website or from any location on your computer.

On iPhone and iPad;  You add images using the Tools menu in the Main View. This menu contains four buttons, each with a specific function:

  1. Photos – Opens your Photo Library so you can select an image to analyze.

  2. Camera Icon – Lets you take a photo of a stamp. (Click here for details on photographing stamps.)

  3. Share Sheet – Opens a pop-up with the Print option for generating a certificate.

    (Swipe up if you don’t see the Print option.)

  4. Crop Icon – Enables or disables Photos Crop Mode.

Description of the Results on the Main View

Title Field

Mac & PC: The image file path or URL appears at the top center of the screen.

iPhone: The title is shown below the stamp image.

iPad: The title is shown above the image.

On both iPhone and iPad, the image name is automatically prefixed with the DPI.

Editing the Title

Mac: You can edit the title using the Edit and Format menus. Once set, the Stamp Analyser remembers title attributes such as font and color.  If you want a fixed, generic title that does not change with each new image, set Title Display Option → Fix Titlein the Tools menu.

PC: This field is not currently editable.

iPad: Tap the title field to edit it.

iPhone: The title is not editable due to limited screen space.

Stamp Image

A color image of the stamp is displayed with superimposed guide lines: blue lines along the perforations and orange lines along the frame boundary. When needed, you can reposition these lines using the grab handles at each end. Tick marks are placed along the perforations to indicate the perforations detected by the Stamp Analyser.

If the Stamp Analyser cannot detect any part of the frame boundary, the orange line turns red. Likewise, if it cannot detect any perforations, the blue line changes to dotted red.

Grab handles are active in the Main View (Mac & PC) and in the Magnification View on iOS devices.

  • To open the Magnification View, double-click the stamp image (Mac) or tap the image (iOS).

  • To select a grab handle, click or tap it. Once selected, its connected line turns green, indicating it can be dragged or adjusted with arrow keys (Mac).

You can also switch the stamp image to an outline view, swap grab handles, or show/hide lines to make repositioning easier.

In Magnification View

  • Swap Image – toggles between color and outline views

  • Swap Handles – toggles between orange and blue handles

  • Blue Eye Icon – shows or hides the blue perforation lines

  • Orange Eye Icon – shows or hides the orange frame boundary lines

  • Line Selecter Icon – cycles through grab handles without tapping directly

After adjusting the lines, press Reanalyse to apply the changes.

Tip: When multiple lines need adjustment, reposition the blue lines first, press Reanalyse, then adjust the orange lines, and press Reanalyse again. Normally, you do not have to move the blue line.

Recommended Workflow for Positioning Lines

  1. Correct the stamp side type if needed.

  2. If the design line (orange) overlaps or is too close to the perforations, move it away.

  3. Position the blue line along the semi-circular ends of the perforations—close but not touching—and press Reanalyse.

  4. Position the orange line and press Reanalyse again.

Perforations

The Stamp Analyser typically detects all perforations, Perforation values are displayed as “perforations per 2 cm.”

Perforation filed indicators Indicators

  • Perforations per 2 cm, rounded – edge identified as perforate

  • “IMPERF” – edge identified as imperforate

  • “Error” – perforation value exceeds 18 per 2 cm or cannot be reliably read (possible causes: incorrect DPI, missing/damaged perforations)

In rare cases, jagged imperforate edges may be misread as perforations, or heavy cancellation marks may prevent perforation detection. In these situations, you can manually override the edge type:

Mac & PC: use the Tools menu or click the perforation field

iPhone & iPad: tap the perforation field

DPI

The DPI value is used to calculate both the perforations and the frame dimensions. In most cases, you will not need to change it. However, if the DPI shown does not match the DPI of your scanned image, you may update it as follows:

  • Mac: Tap the perforation block header and select a value from the drop-down list.

  • iPhone & iPad: Long-press the stamp image and enter the new DPI value in the dialog box that appears.

Margin Widths and Stamp Grade

Margin widths can be displayed either in image pixels or in normalized values.

  • Click or tap any margin value to toggle between the two display formats.

  • On iOS devices, tap the  Margin Widths button to switch formats.

The stamp grade is shown as a numerical score (0–100) along with the corresponding grade label (e.g., XF 90). This grade is calculated based only on the balance of the four margins. The stamp is assumed to be faultless for soundness and  and neat and clean for eye appeal.

You may optionally make adjustments for Soundness (faults) and Eye Appeal.

  • To do this, click or tap the disclosure button next to Fault Settings.

  • On iOS, tap the Faults or Eye Appeal buttons.

Soundness Adjustments

For soundness, the Stamp Analyser automatically applies the appropriate grade reduction based on fault type. These reduction values are taken from the PSE Grading Guide, but you may override them if needed.

Eye Appeal Adjustments

For eye appeal, the Stamp Analyser automatically adjusts the grade based on the eye appeal value entered. These  values are taken from the PSE Grading Guide, but you may override them if needed.

In both cases, clicking or tapping the detailed disclosure buttons within the Fault View will show a summary of all fault and eye-appeal adjustments. For more information, consult the PSE Grading Guide.

 

As space is limited on the iPhone, detailed centering information appears on a separate screen.To view it, swipe down on the stamp image in the Main View.

Notes on Margin Appearance

At times, a margin may appear visually larger than what the Stamp Analyser reports. This is because the calculation uses the perforation closest to the frame line. If one or more perforations sit closer to the frame boundary than others, the reported margin will be based on those closest perforations. This is expected behavior.

Stamp Frame Dimensions

The stamp’s frame dimensions are displayed in millimeters (mm).

  • Mac: Right-click the stamp image to show the frame; right-click again to hide it.

  • iPhone/iPad: Two finger Double-tap the image to reveal the frame; double-tap again to hide it.

Note: As with perforations, frame measurements rely on the correct DPI setting. The DPI must match the original scan for accurate results.

 

Using Grab Handles

Grab handles allow you to manually reposition the blue (perforation) and orange (frame) lines.

On Mac

  1. Hover over one of the small squares at the end of a line until the cursor becomes a “hand.”

  2. Click to select the handle. The connected line will turn green.

  3. Drag the line or use your keyboard arrow keys for fine adjustments.

On iPhone & iPad

  1. Tap a grab handle to select it. The connected line will turn green.

  2. Drag the line or use the on-screen arrows for precise control.

  3. You may also select grab handles using the line selector button

Saving the Results

  • Mac: Use File > Print to print the certificate.

  • iPhone & iPad: Tap the Share Sheet icon to access the print option.

On the Mac, you can switch between the Main View and the Print View using a two-finger horizontal swipe on the trackpad or by scrolling left/right with a mouse wheel.

Supported File Types

The Stamp Analyser supports all common image formats used in macOS and iOS, including:

.jpg, .gif, .tiff, .png, .bmp, and others.

Stamp Margin Marks or Smudges

Occasionally, the Stamp Analyser may misidentify the frame boundary. This can happen if marks in the margin—such as cancellation ink, glassine impressions, or other artifacts—are mistaken for the frame edge.

To correct this:

  • Use the grab handles to reposition the boundary line.

  • Press Reanalyse to update the results.

Low contrast between the stamp and the background can also affect accuracy. For best results, scan stamps against a black background.

You may also notice a small gap between the actual frame line and the detected line. If the margins are clear, the Analyser may simply have detected a faint printed line—this is normal.

Stamps Without Frame Boundaries

Some stamps have designs that run directly into the perforations, leaving no clear frame boundaries. In these cases, the Stamp Analyser will search for straight design edges and use them as boundaries.

Incorrectly Identified Stamp Side

If the Analyser identifies a perforated side as imperforate—or vice-versa—you can manually correct the stamp side by tapping the appropriate perforation field, then press Reanalyse.

Resetting and Returning to the Startup Screen

You do not need to reset the Stamp Analyser between stamps.

  • Mac: Drag and drop a new image onto the Main View to begin analyzing the next stamp.

  • iPhone/iPad: Load the next image using the toolbar.

To  return to the startup screen:

  • Mac: Choose View > Show Startup Screen.

  • iPhone/iPad: Swipe left in the Main View.

This clears previous results and resets the application.

Stamp Pairs, Blocks, Strips, or Stamps with Sheet Margins

On Mac

  1. In the Tools menu, turn Crop Mode ON.

  2. Drag and drop the multi-stamp image into the Main View.

  3. In the Crop View, position the crop rectangle around the stamp you want.

  4. Choose Crop, then Save or Analyze.

    Repeat for each stamp as needed.

On iPhone & iPad

  1. Turn Crop Mode ON (the crop icon turns orange).

  2. Select the block or strip from the photo library.

  3. A Crop View appears. Adjust the rectangle to isolate the desired stamp.

  4. Tap Analyse.

    The cropped, analyzed stamp will be saved to your photo library.

Measuring Distance Between Two Points

Tap or click the measurement (tape/ruler) switch to enter measurement mode.

Drag the displayed line to your start and end points.

The distance will be shown in centimeters (cm) at the top of the view.

Important: Measurements are accurate only for:

  • scanned stamps

  • photos taken directly within the Stamp Analyser