Embossing (manufacturing)

Embossing is when you take a flat piece of material, like paper or metal, and squish it between two things with a design on them. This makes the design stick out from the material, like a raised picture or pattern.

Imagine you have a pancake that you want to decorate. You could use a cookie cutter with a fun shape, like a star. You press the cookie cutter onto the pancake and remove it, leaving behind a star shape. When you cook the pancake, the star shape is raised up and can be seen and felt. This is kind of like embossing.

But instead of using a cookie cutter, manufacturers use machines and molds to emboss materials like paper, leather, or metal. They can make all kinds of designs, like logos or textures. Embossed materials can look fancier and more professional than flat ones, so they're often used for things like book covers or fancy invitations.