Sometimes termed blind embossing, it refers to the use of an block to raise (embossing) or recessing (debossing) an area on either a board or a paper that has already been printed. Two metal die-blocks are used – a raised ‘male’ and a recessed ‘female’ block.
Embossed hard cover book
A stamp-press is commonly fitted with the blocks and the printed material run though with the blocks creating a 3D area.
Blind embossing is where the 3D effect does not line-up or register with any printed element e.g. a printed book title as contrasted with a printed background or image. For example a book title can simply be embossed (without the title being defined by print). This differs from where the embossing registers or lines up with a printed element.
See also Combination foiling
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