What is emboss?
Emboss raises a defined area of board with a die to form a raised shape on the surface. The opposite, pressing a shape inward, is called deboss. It gives a logo tactile depth and stays visible even without printing. It needs its own die, which adds cost.
Embossing uses a two-part die: one part presses the board from below, the other from above, and the board takes the shape of the die. As a result part of the surface rises, and a reverse impression remains on the back. In debossing the shape is pressed inward instead.
Emboss can be printed or blank. Blind emboss is read only through light and shadow and gives a quiet elegance. Printed emboss adds depth on top of a colored logo. Combined with foil, it gives an effect that is both shiny and raised.
Because a die is prepared for each shape, it adds cost. Very fine lines and small details can be lost in emboss, and the thickness and type of the board also affect the result. The embossed area should not sit too close to a fold line, or the shape can distort when the box is folded.
Emboss does not change the dieline itself, but it needs a note on the die and the board thickness. The printer asks for this information; how much depth is possible is decided by the board and the machine, so your printer specifies the value.
How you do this in Grapxo
In Grapxo, finish areas such as emboss sit on a separate vector layer. Put the emboss die and thickness note into the brief; your printer's spec comes first.
For more, see Hot foil, emboss and spot UV.
Start producing in the studio
Write your brief and let Grapxo produce a print-ready vector surface.