EMBOSSING AND DEBOSSING

Embossing is a printing technique which creates a pattern on a material such as paper, metal, fabric, leather, or wood. The pattern can be raised or in relief, therefore depicting whether it is Embossing or Debossing.
Embossing involves a separate stage in the production process, after any varnishing and laminating. This process costs as much as printing. Many consumers interact with embossed items on a regular basis, ranging from embossed book covers to postage stamps.

A die embosses a single piece of material at a time, but it can be used again and again. With both dies and rollers, the pattern to be embossed is carved in reverse, so that when the die is pressed against the material, the desired pattern will show up in the correct form. Typically, a die is designed to be mounted into a press, and is not hand-held. Both dies and rollers also may use heat in order to be more effective.

In printing, embossing can add a great deal to printing costs. Embossing represents a separate run through the press, usually, unless a die is designed to be inked. More commonly, printed materials are “blind embossed,” meaning that they are embossed without the use of ink. When blind embossing is used, it is important to ensure that the embossing die is properly registered, so that it will mesh with the inked patterns which were produced first.