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A Brief History of Embossing

wedding embosser

What is embossing?

Alongside stamping, embossing is another way to add customisation or branding to your materials. Instead of printing a design onto a surface with ink, an embosser will push a design into the surface, causing it to stand out in relief and create a wonderfully tactile, textured design that will certainly leave a lasting impression.

There are many ways embossing can be applied, from personal projects to official documentation and seals – and it’s a practice that has been going for centuries!

embossed logo 1

Early embossers

Embossing can be dated at least as far back as antiquity, although it did not become a commonplace practice until the 19th century when printing en masse became facilitated. It is said to stem from the practice of using hot stamping, using heated ink and pressing it into materials, from metal to leather, and even skin!

Perhaps an obvious spot, coins and currency are one of the oldest things to be embossed, and were originally stamped manually by placing the coin between two die plates and striking the upper die with a hammer. This method was used up until the 15th – 17th century, when coins started to be milled (embossed mechanically).

Leather goods were often also embossed with decorative patterns and designs, or with lettering, especially in the case of book covers. Leather can be embossed and engraved through a variety of methods, but was originally done by hand using sharp tools made of stone, wood, metal and even bone. Nowadays, it is still common for leather to be embossed with logos or design work, with some craftsmen still using traditional tools!

Embossers have also historically been used in government seals and legal documentation, and continue to be used in this way to this day. Some postage stamps are also embossed.

Embossing in the modern world

In the modern era, things like certificates, documents and invitations are all often embossed, either to provide official verification or simply to add a final aesthetic touch. One popular use of embossing is in the customisation of business cards, which are easily made to look elegant and professional with the addition of texture and foil.

Another fun use for an embosser is in personal libraries. Alongside ex libris stamps, some people prefer to add their personal claim to their novel collections by casting a seal in relief in the pages. 

custom emosser 1

How can I emboss my stuff?!

For DIY embossing, the popular method these days is to use a handheld seal press. Just like stamps, they can be customised with your own designs and logos, so you can add a personal touch to a variety of projects, or make your branding really pop by adding that extra texture and detail. 

Getting the technique right is important: thinner, more delicate paper may tear if pressed too hard, whereas thicker card stock may take some finessing to get the impression deep enough; however, embossing is certainly an easy way to add some flair to whatever you’re working on!

Different embossers will be able to handle different types and thicknesses of material, so make sure you’re getting the right tool for the job. The embossers on our site can handle a range of thicknesses appropriate for most projects: 80 – 150gsm, or printer paper to medium thick premium paper!

You can check out our embossers here.