New mobile app from Canada Post turns your photos into stamps

Canada Post is hoping to boost the popularity of its custom stamp production by meeting today's standard of accessibility with the launch of a new mobile app.

"Were hoping that the convenience of being able to snap a photo on your phone on a summer's day and turn it into a stamp right away will appeal to people," said Canada Post spokeswoman Anick Losier in a Toronto Star story.

Thursday's launch of the free app provides iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users with the ability to create legitimate domestic stamps from personal photos. A single sheet of 20 self-adhesive stamps, complete with a souvenir photo enlargement costs $27.95, while a sheet of 40 would cost $44.75.

The charge for these custom stamps is almost double that of standard postage, but Losier is quick to highlight the perks of the added costs.

"The stamps are printed at Canada Bank Note, so as soon as they are printed they become real currency with your photos on it," said Losier in the story.

Wedding, graduation and newborn baby photos are expected to be some of the more popular uploads, but Canada post is prepared for the odd racy request. Users would be ill-informed to believe they had complete autonomy when creating their custom stamps.

"Nothing of a sexual nature will be accepted," said Losier. "Anything of questionable nature, we will phone people and ask them if they really want it on a stamp. Recently a religious group wanted to create a stamp for the beatification on John Paul II, and we asked them to get permission from the Vatican first, which they did."

Canada Post's custom stamp service has widely gone unnoticed, struggling to gain recognition in the years it's been operational.

Aside from the occasional bride-to-be, looking to add to her wedding invitations a unique enhancement, many people have simply been unaware, or disinterested in the custom stamps.

Those looking to create their own stamps should download the free Canada Post app or simply visit PicturePostage.ca.

(Photo: Canada Post)