Is
the background simple enough to facilitate these additional
elements?
The
First Federal Duck Stamp
Artist:
Jay N. Ding Darling
Composition
Is
the composition strong with sufficient color contrast
to emphasize detail and shading ?
Do
elements such as shape and line appear strong enough
that they do not blur together ?
Does
the central design stand out from the background?
Is it eye-catching?
Typography
Is
there space for lettering and numerals without overlapping
the central featured design elements?
Is
the background simple enough to facilitate these additional
elements?
Since
1934, the year of the first Federal Duck Stamp, the stamp's
design has included three components: a central vignette,
a denomination and textual inscriptions. Early Federal
Duck Stamp designs were entirely engraved and printed
on a flat bed press. Today printing technology is constantly
changing and combination printing techniques with security
measures are standard. Federal Duck Stamps are also issued
in different formats such
as the water-activated (WAG) single stamp and the self-adhesive
mini-sheet (PSA). See
examples
The
artwork for a Federal Duck Stamp has specific requirements
to be effective as a stamp design. Not only must the
duck(s) be anatomically correct and in the appropriate
habitat, the design must also meet the following considerations:
Original
artwork for the 75th Duck Stamp
by Joseph
Hautman
75th
Anniversary Duck Stamp
Reduction
Is
the design simple? Avoid complicated designs that will
not reduce well or in which important details will be
lost. Use a reducing glass to see how the design will
appear when reduced to stamp size
Originality Is
the design original? Avoid designs that are duplicates
of previous Federal Duck Stamp designs. Past duck stamps
and resources listed below make good sources for design
ideas and information about past duck stamps.
References
Books:
Source: Cheryl Ganz, Chief Curator
of Philately, Smithsonian National Postal Museum with James
O'Donnell, Museum Specialist, NPM, and Terry McCaffrey,
Manager of Stamp Development, United States Postal Service.
2008
The Duck Stamp Story by
Eric Jay Dolin and Bob Dumaine (krause Pub. 2000).
The Federal Duck Stamps by
David P. McBride(Winchester Press, 1984).
Brochure:
The Federal Duck Stamp
75th Anniversary Field Guide(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
http://arago.si.edu -Smithsonian
National Postal Museum has all federal duck stamps on-line
with descriptive text as well as the featured collection
Glorious Flight.
