A Sneak Peek into our Embossing Process

Embossing is a technique used to create a raised design on paper using pressure. Adding texture and depth, embossing is a unique way to give dimensionality to artwork. There are many methods of embossing using either heat, water, pressure, or a combination of the three.

To produce our embossed artworks, we use a blind embossing technique which some people call printing without ink! Utilizing a linocut block for texture rather than color, we employ a similar method to linocut printing with our etching press but we omit the ink. Ben, our printing aficionado, introduced this technique to Visual Contrast and we love the subtle yet textural effect it produces.

First, a shape or design is carved into a sheet of linoleum. To have a single raised shape, Ben cuts out an individual shape from the block. To have a design with raised and recessed areas, Ben carves into the sheet of linoleum, removing areas of the block while leaving some as-is. The untouched areas will become raised and the removed areas become the recessed areas. He slightly dampens the paper with water and lays it on the linoleum block. The paper and linoleum are run through our etching press, applying a large amount of pressure. The pressure causes the paper to become embossed with the design. After waiting for the paper to dry completely, the paper is removed from the linoleum to reveal the embossing.

Often we like to silkscreen a color onto the paper first before embossing to add another dimension to the artworks. The colored background makes the raised design stand out even more, creating contrast between the lifted areas and the shadows they produce. As seen in our Currents series, a sheet of handmade paper is silkscreened a single color and then embossed, creating a set of colorful artworks.