Designing the ideal packaging can feel overwhelming with so many options and techniques available for graphics. One technique that is gaining a lot of popularity is embossing.
It creates raised outlines of your artwork design, images, designs, and texts on a piece of material. It has become a favored finish that improves visual appeal and gives a sophisticated and elegant look.
This technique finds diverse uses across various applications, such as brochures, business cards, certificates, folders, and packaging.
This quick guide explores embossing and covers all you need to know about it.
What’s Embossing?
Embossing is a technique that creates raised areas on the surface of your packaging. This is achieved by using a custom-made metal plate, called a die, which is pressed into the packaging material. The die can be designed to create a single, uniform level of raised detail or multiple levels for a more complex design.
How Embossing Works
To start embossing, you use a metal plate called a die. It has your design sticking out on it. Then, you press this plate onto your packaging from underneath to make the raised edges.
These metal plates are strong and can be used many times. So, you can use the same plate for different packaging or big orders. They come in various sizes for all kinds of projects.
Metals Used For Die of Embossing/Debossing
Paper embossing can use different types and styles of dies to make special effects.
But first, let’s talk about the three main metals used for embossing and debossing dies: magnesium, copper, and brass.
Magnesium is cheap but soft. It’s only good for simple dies, and it wears out fast.
Copper is stronger than magnesium but is still used for simple dies.
Brass is the toughest and lasts the longest. It’s needed for complex dies but costs more than copper.
What Types of Dies Are There?
Since you know about the metal plates used for dies, let’s talk about the different types of dies used to emboss paper.
Detailed dies add more complexity and depth to make your design look even better. But there are many options depending on what you need.
Single-level die changes the material’s surface at one level. It’s the most common and cheapest.
Multi-level Emboss die has several different levels.
Bevel-edge is similar to a single-level die but with a slanted edge on the design. Deeper dies need this to avoid cutting the material.
Textured die has a textured surface. It is good for designs that don’t need fine details.
Rounded die makes rounded corners, great for logos and text.
Sculptured is the most expensive type of die. It is custom-made by hand based on a provided design for a unique stamped or embossed pattern.
Embossed Paper Styles
There are many different die options, and there are also several styles of embossing to pick from:
Blind Embossing
This style doesn’t use ink or foil stamping. It gives a clear and clean design, great for a subtle look on embossed paper.
Registered Emboss
By using ink, foil stamping, or other embossed effects, this style adds more depth and a shiny or polished look to your design.
Combination Embossing
This style mixes foil stamping and blind embossing and is used to highlight important parts of a design, like logos or graphics. The design is embossed and then lined with foil to make a bold 3D design.
Benefits of Embossing
Embossing adds texture and dimension to the final product. It not only enhances the appearance but also makes it easier for people who are blind to read what’s written on the card or paper because embossed letters are raised above the surface. Some other benefits are listed below:
- It adds a fun and attractive touch to your packaging.
- Embossing gives a textured appearance to your product’s packages.
- It makes your product stand out and be remembered.
- Luxury embossed boxes elevates your product packaging
- Embossing grabs attention and can boost product sales.
- It creates a high-quality contrast with various materials.
- Traditionally, it’s a method to simplify foil/paper printing.
Material suggestion for embossing
For the best outcomes with embossing and debossing, we recommend using 14pt-18pt cardstock material. Embossing and debossing are not ideal for corrugated boxes. For rigid or setup boxes, be aware of the potential limitations on the embossed result depending on your design.
