If a Spellbinders BetterPress plate prints faintly or leaves an uneven impression on one side of your card panel, check the three thin factory shims under the gray magnetic insert, your ink tapping technique, and your paper fiber before adding any external shim. Never stack Universal cutting plates under the BetterPress Chase.
Check this setup in the finderA documentation-based guide, not a hands-on test. Manufacturer instructions support technical claims; community reports illustrate questions, not compatibility guarantees. How we check our sources.
On this page
- Distinguishing ink coverage issues from roller pressure issues
- Four safe checks before running a second pass
- What cardmakers share about ink and shim tuning
- How to check and maintain the three factory shims inside the Chase
- Why ink chemistry and tapping motion matter as much as pressure
- Common BetterPress troubleshooting questions
- Sources & review notes
Distinguishing ink coverage issues from roller pressure issues
A pale BetterPress result can come from two completely different sources: dry or unevenly applied archival ink on the metal press plate, or insufficient compression between the Chase and Platen. Checking the paper surface with a magnifying glass or angled light reveals which issue you have. [1] [2]
| What the panel looks like | Root cause | Safe fix |
|---|---|---|
| Deep indentation in paper, but ink lines look faded or spotty | Insufficient ink or pressing the ink pad flat instead of tapping | Tap and twist the mini archival ink pad lightly across raised metal lines |
| Crisp dark ink, but almost no debossed indentation in paper | Hard wood-pulp cardstock or missing factory shims under magnet | Use 100% cotton panels and verify all three factory shims are in the Chase |
| One corner of the panel is blank or unpressed | Card tape overlapping a corner magnet post on the Platen | Keep tape clear of the four corner magnets so the Platen sits level |
Spellbinders notes that the three factory shims inside the Chase are specifically included to tune impression depth safely across compatible manual machines. [1] [3]
Four safe checks before running a second pass
Because the BetterPress Chase is magnetic and the Platen aligns via four corner magnets, you can re-ink and run a second pass if the card panel has not shifted on the Platen. [1]
- Leave the cotton card panel taped to the clear Platen if you need to re-ink the metal press plate for a second pass.
- Lift the gray magnetic insert inside the Chase and confirm that all three factory mylar shims are lying flat without wrinkles.
- Center narrower press plates on the magnetic grid rather than crowding them onto one outer edge of the Chase.
- Never place a clear cutting plate (C) or Universal platform (A/B) underneath the Chase to force a deeper impression.
What cardmakers share about ink and shim tuning
In Reddit discussions comparing BetterPress and Glimmer II, owners note that BetterPress has a fast learning curve once crafters use a light tapping motion with the ink pad and stick to cotton panels with the three factory shims intact. [4] [5]
How to check and maintain the three factory shims inside the Chase
When your BetterPress system arrives in the box (BP-001), three thin translucent mylar shims sit underneath the gray magnetic insert inside the black Chase. Over time, ink cleaner, stray tape bits, or removing the magnetic insert can shift or crease those shims. [1] [2]
| Inspection point inside the Chase | What to look for | Why it affects your print |
|---|---|---|
| Count of factory shims under magnet | All three thin factory shims present for standard 118 lb cotton panels | Missing shims reduce roller compression and leave pale impressions |
| Flatness of shims and magnetic insert | No curled corners, trapped die-cut scraps, or overlapped tape | A tiny paper scrap under the magnet creates a high spot and blank halo around it |
| Metal press plate back surface | Clean, flat metal underside with no tape residue | Sticker residue tilts the press plate and causes one-sided fading |
| Corner magnet posts on Chase & Platen | Free of tape strips and ink build-up | Tape over a magnet post holds that corner of the Platen slightly open |
Keeping the interior of the Chase clean and flat ensures that the spring-loaded Platen presses the cotton panel evenly across the entire metal plate. [1]
Why ink chemistry and tapping motion matter as much as pressure
BetterPress Ink is a specially formulated oil-based archival pigment ink designed to sit on top of smooth metal press plates without beading up into droplets. Water-based dye inks often bead on bare metal, producing a mottled or pale transfer even when the mechanical deboss is deep. [1] [2]
- Use BetterPress Ink (or Ranger Archival Ink) rather than standard water-based dye ink pads when troubleshooting a pale impression.
- Tap and lightly quarter-turn the mini ink pad across the raised metal lines rather than mashing the pad straight down into the recessed background areas.
- If the first pass looks slightly light, leave the cotton panel taped to the clear Platen, re-ink the metal plate on the Chase, snap the Platen back onto the four corner magnets, and run a second pass.
- Re-ink your mini archival pad when it begins to feel dry so you are not tempted to over-shim the machine to compensate for a dry ink pad.
Common BetterPress troubleshooting questions
Can I re-ink and run a BetterPress panel a second time if the first print is light?
Yes. As long as you leave the cotton card panel taped in position on the clear Platen and leave the metal plate in position on the magnetic Chase, the four corner magnets will realign the Platen for a second pass.
Why is the center of a large background press plate lighter than the outer edges?
Roller machines naturally flex slightly across wide, solid metal plates. Re-inking the center of the plate carefully and feeding the Chase straight through the center of the rollers helps equalize coverage without adding unsafe shims.
Can I use Glimmer hot foil plates inside the BetterPress Chase to get a deeper impression?
Spellbinders states that Glimmer hot foil plates are thinner than BetterPress plates and are not designed for letterpress use in the BetterPress system, while BetterPress plates can be used for hot foiling in the Glimmer system.
Keep your collection and setup notes together.
Start with three free recipe cards, or get the separate $19 Pro Organizer for searchable inventory, storage locations, printable labels, and a plate-care log. The desktop download stores records locally; keep JSON backups.
Sources & review notes
Checked against the references below on November 7, 2026. Product packages and documentation can change. A brand name, nominal width, or similar appearance does not establish compatibility.
- Spellbinders BetterPress BP-001: operation and box contents
- Spellbinders BetterPress FAQ: plate differences and misuse warning
- Spellbinders: BetterPress machine compatibility and exclusions
- Reddit r/cardmaking: Question about hot foiling and specialty systems
- Reddit: New Spellbinders Glimmer II and specialty system thread