Embossing creates raised areas in your packaging. This look is particularly effective when combined with hot foil stamping, metallic Pantone inks, or spot gloss effects.

Here are a few examples of embossing on titles:

Debossing is simply embossing in the other direction. Debossed items are pressed into the stock. Here is a closeup of the slipcase we made for the "Leonardo, The Complete Codex" DVD showing the debossing of the drawing of Leonardo.

Alcatraz Reunion slipcase - Matte Lamination, Spot Gloss, Pantone Metallic Ink, foil stamp and embossing

In Alcatraz Reunion, the slipcase has Matte Lamination with Spot UV Gloss, and it uses both Pantone Metallic and hot foil stamp, AND embossing. The face outline is done with tints of Pantone 877 Silver Metallic, with overprinting black images. The title "Alcatraz Reunion" in foil stamped "into" the, glossy, embossed name board at the bottom.

As you might have guessed, this is not really embossing, but This is a really beautiful effect—features that knock out to the disc surface, when seen under a matte coating, seem to take on a 3-D effect. Simple colors are key to pulling this off. Here's a particularly nice example:

"Embossed CD Disc"
disc face with spot UV Gloss and matte varnish

Send us your art and we can help you set this up. CHECK OUT Our Disc Printing Page (www.megalodon.com/graphics/disc-printing.html) for some more tips on this.

The majority of special effects can be easily set up as separate layers in your favorite graphic design or layout program. Whatever color you use for embossing, have everything that needs the effect in a single color, at 100% ink. Email to be walked through the process depending on your program of choice, or have a graphics specialists set up the special effects for you (may incur additional cost). Here are some pages that may help you with ideas:
Special Printing Effects
Foiling / Hot Foil Stamping
Embossing and Debossing
Spot UV Gloss
How to set up Spot Colors
How to set up PIPS or reverse side printing
Custom Die Cuts
Unusual Folds and Shapes
Metallic Ink printing
Spot White Ink on Fiberboard Stock
Special Disc Printing
Uncoated Paper(Matte)
Fiberboard Paper (brown, kraft)

One of our favorite titles for show & tell is the Deva Film Reel as it actually has all of the effects; hot foil stamping, embossing, debossing, spot UV glass & lamination. Be sure to check our the full spec for the special printing effects on Deva's Featured Title page.