Embossing Powder
A thermoplastic powder that melts under heat into a raised, glossy relief.
| Powder | Thermoplastic resin, ground to 40–80 µm |
| Melt temperature | 90–130 °C |
| Application | Wet ink, slow-drying ink, or embossing ink |
| Excess removal | Tap and brush, over a tray |
| Heat source | Heat gun, 200–300 °C at the nozzle |
| Relief height | 0.2–0.6 mm |
| Finishes | Gloss, matt, metallic, opaque |
| Shelf life | Indefinite if kept dry |
| Melt temperature | 90–130 °C |
| Relief height | 0.2–0.6 mm |
| Suitable stock | Card 200 gsm and above |
| Processes | Embossed relief on printed matter |
| Compatible materials | Slow-drying letterpress ink, embossing ink, PVA on a stamp |
| Minimum detail | 0.4 mm stroke; below that the powder bridges |
| Heat time | 3–8 seconds per area |
| Durability | Poor under abrasion; will not survive a fold |
Embossing powder is applied to a wet print, the excess is tapped off, and the remaining powder is melted with a heat gun. It fuses into a raised, glossy layer that follows the printed image exactly. The relief is produced by the melting, not by a die, which is why the technique can produce detail that no embossing die could.
It is a craft technique rather than a production one, and it has real limitations. The raised line is fragile under abrasion, it will not survive a fold, and the heat gun will warp a thin sheet. On a heavy card and a simple design it is genuinely effective.
Safety
Using it well
- Work quickly. The ink has to still be wet when the powder goes on, and a slow-drying ink gives you about 30 seconds.
- Hold the heat gun 100 mm away and keep it moving. Close and stationary is how you scorch the card and set the powder alight.
- Do not emboss anything that will be folded. The raised layer cracks off the fold line.
What it works with
Papers and substrates
- Card from 200 gsm
- Board
- Coated stock with a slow-drying ink
Type and fonts
- Any type or plate 10 pt and above
Processes
- Embossed relief
- Combined with foil for a raised metallic
Tools that go with the embossing powder
Hot Stamping Tool
A heated die and a press, or a heated hand tool for small work.
Debossing Die
A raised relief that presses an image into the sheet without ink or foil.
Gold Foil
A thin metallic film on a carrier, transferred to the surface under heat and pressure.