Embossing is an artistic technique which creates a pattern on a material such as paper, metal, fabric, leather, or wood. The pattern can be raised or in relief, depending on how it is embossed. Many consumers interact with embossed items on a regular basis, ranging from embossed book covers to notarized documents. As an artistic technique, embossing has been around for hundreds of years, with numerous artifacts from tooled leather belts to metal ornaments showing signs of embossing.

There are a number of ways to emboss something. Some artists emboss by hand, using hand held tools to stamp out a pattern in the material being embossed. This technique will create unique raised designs which cannot be replicated. Embossing of this style is often used for customized art projects, or when ordering an embossing die would seem impractical. Both dry and heat embossing techniques are used for hand embossing projects, depending on how the artist wants the finished piece to look.

The other type of embossing uses a die or roller. Rollers are used for continuous embossing, such as manufacturing leather with a uniform pattern. 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. Embossing may also be used in paper making, to distinctively stamp individual sheets of paper so that they will be identifiable to consumers.

Notaries public and other officials use hand held embossing stamps to mark documents from their offices. An embossed pattern can be difficult to forge, ensuring that the document is official and distinctive. Hand held embossing stamps can be ordered from numerous specialty supply companies, and they are extremely easy to use. Hand embossers are also handy for marking personal possessions such as books.