Monday, 5 November 2012

PRINT PROCESSES: embossing and de-bossing

Embossing and de-bossing


Embossing is a technique which creates a raised, 3 dimensional image on a piece of paper or similar material. Debossing creates a recess in the page.


It is typically accomplished with a combination of heat and pressure on the paper. This is achieved by using a metal die (female), usually made of brass and a counter die (male), that fit together and actually squeeze the fibres of the substrate.

This pressure and a combination of heat actually "irons" while raising the level of the image higher than the substrate to make it smooth. This is accomplished on a letterpress.

The term "debossing" enables one to distinguish an image lowered into the surface of a material, in distinction to an image raised out of the surface of a material.

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