Wedding invitations are commonly embossed.
Embossing refers to the art of raising parts of paper so that it looks and feels three-dimensional. Invitations, napkins and greeting cards are examples of items that are sometimes embossed. Embossing is done with a die, which is similar to a stamp, and allows you to get an evenly embossed pattern. This is important for items that need to look the same, such as wedding invitations. An item's embossing height varies depending on the type and thickness of the paper and refers to how far the pattern is raised from the paper. Choosing the right height is important because it prevents the embossed area from being too deep or too shallow, which alters the look of the design.
Instructions
1. Find out the weight of the paper you want to emboss. This information is typically located on the package. A light weight paper, under .010 inches, will require a more shallow die than heavy card stock type paper, which needs a deeper die to press the pattern to a height that can be seen and felt on the paper. Heavier paper is between .020 and .030 inches.
2. Feel the paper to determine if it is coated. An example of coated papers is glossy photo paper. Embossing on coated paper requires a shallow die because a deep one could cause the pattern to crack. Plain paper is safe to emboss with a deeper die because it is not as prone to damage as paper that is coated. The paper package will likely contain this information if you are unable to determine it by feel.
3. Decide how thick your embossed pattern will be. Thin patterns may not appear properly if you use a deep die. Words are often embossed using thin lines. Thicker patterns, such as a Christmas tree on a holiday greeting card, require a deeper die to ensure that the entire pattern is embossed evenly. For invitations and greeting cards, several dies may be needed for the different parts of the pattern.
