Print Production: Embossing, Foil Stamping, and Die Cutting

Adding a die cut or emboss to your print job can make a striking visual impact; it's a way of sculpturing and increasing a reader's engagement with your work. Learn about the various types of embossing and die cutting as well as the proper ways to set up your documents to achieve consistent results. Author Claudia McCue covers manufacturing concerns like cost, time, choosing the appropriate paper stock, and file formatting; preparing your artwork for embossing and stamping; and then designing your die-cut project in Adobe Illustrator or InDesign.

Learning objectives
Understanding how dies are created: hand-engraved, machined, or photo-engraved
Preparing files for die-cutting
Choosing appropriate stock
Creating artwork for single- or multi-level embossing
Checking proofs
Examining a cutting die
Handling a complex bleed