Embossing/ Debossing induction

Embossing and debossing are the processes of creating either raised or recessed relief images and designs in paper and other materials. An embossed pattern is raised against the background, while a debossed pattern is sunken into the surface of the material.

Process
Soak paper in a shallow bath of water - handmade paper will absorb more water which means soaking for a longer period of time, 20 minutes for example. Cartridge paper will only need about 5 minutes.
Create your stencil - cut out shapes from cereal packets etc. 

On the etching press lay a sheet of newsprint and the stencil on top. Then lay your soaked and dried paper on top (the way up depends on whether you want your stencil embossed and debossed), as well as tissue paper and another sheet of newsprint. Finally lay the blanket over the sheets and roll the press over the layers. The pressure of the press imprints the shapes into the paper.

debossed

embossed

In this case the debossed print worked more effectively than the embossed print, possibly because of the colour of the paper and the '8' in the stencil wasn't the same thickness as the other letters.

I was intending on using this process for my publication as it linked well to the grooves in vinyl records and would've looked effective pressed into the sleeve or the cover of my publication. However after doing the process I don't think I will be using it, soaking the card I intend to use would potentially leave it crinkled as it has with the white paper I used in the induction. I want my sleeve to look clean and any crinkles from it being soaked in water would affect the overall look of the publication.

Instead I am thinking of laser cutting my sleeve. Using a kiss cut will score the paper without cutting it, still leaving a textured and imprinted effect onto the sleeve.