Engraving vs. Thermography

For starters, engraving has been with us for hundreds of years. Engraving is a highly skilled form of raised printing. The beauty of engraving lies in its three-dimensional quality. How is it done? First, an artist creates the original image. This image is etched onto a copper plate or "die." Next, the engraver uses a high-pressure weight that forces the paper into the etched copper die to receive the ink, raising the design off the surface of the paper.

Thermography is also raised printing, but uses a different process. The design is flat-printed and the ink is dusted with resin powder while wet, then subjected to heat forming a raised surface. What you get is slightly shiny raised letters that sit on top of the paper without any indentation on the back.

Both processes are done on Crane's 100% fine cotton paper. The choice is yours.

Click the YouTube arrow to view a video on Crane's Engraving & Thermography Processes.