Embossing << ehm BAWS ihng >> is a process in which a raised design is stamped or pressed on such materials as leather, paper, wood, or metal. One method of embossing is to press the material between two shaping tools, called dies. Letterheads and cards are embossed in this way. The paper is first dampened to make it more flexible. As the embossed area dries, it becomes as hard as the surrounding paper. Stamping machines are used to emboss coins because great pressure is required to raise designs on the metal (see Die and diemaking). Early Greek coins were embossed in dies held on an anvil. A similar process of embossing is used today.
Wood may be embossed by soaking it in water and then pressing a red-hot iron mold on it. Dies can also be used to emboss wood veneers and some plastics.
The term repousse is sometimes used as a synonym for embossing, but this is not strictly correct. In embossing, the surrounding field is pressed back, leaving the design in relief. In repousse, the design is beaten out from the back by hand.
