Make your own Embossed Business Cards using Acid Etching

Step 9 Fin.

There you have it. I know, you would have liked to see a pretty, finished card. But, sorry to say, I haven't quite been able to perfect it. I'm hoping that when I get settled, and have some more time to play with it, I can work out the rest of the kinks. I hope you've enjoyed reading this Instructable, and that it helps you to a big heaping bowl of awesome somewhere on down the line. Thank you.

Things to try for next time:
Experimentation with ideal etch time (12 hour etch at standard dilution wasn't enough depth)
Printing before embossing/embossing dry

Comments

[batvans46]

as far as the printing goes: say, for instance, you wanted ink in all of your little embossed areas. you could make your etch time longer, raising the embossing surface, then use a brayer (ink roller) and gently roll some intaglio ink onto the surface. kinda like combining a woodblock + copper etching. also you could put a silicone mat down first, then your paper, ink the plate then place slowly onto the paper, and press.

nice tutorial though! ive played around with chipboard and such for embossing but i think ill give your procedure a try.

[lgeorge3]

So what exactly did you use to press the plate into the paper? I no longer have access to a professional etching press and wonder if there's a good alternative solution out there... perhaps an inexpensive one? *hopeful*

Thanks for this! I'd never heard of the process you used with the printer. It sounds like it could make things move quickly when you don't need the artist's hand for part of the process.

[Silverchairstudio]

Get a cuttle bug or sixix from your craft store will work I think

[olleorama]

Do you think you could have used aluminium instead of brass?

[townsend1212]

In the olds before printing photos on the computer I dried my photo prints with an electric print dryer or a dryer roll (corrigated cardboard with only one smooth side) and used blotter paper on the print side and rolled the whole thing up and tied it with a string and left it over night. Either technique seems like it would work here.

[KahlZun]

I don't get it. Why isn't the acid dissolving the paper to mush?

[danlab]

The acid isn't, assuming you are referring to step six, the paper is soaked in water so it can be removed without removing the ink.

[hpuilq]

Great tutorial. Would you be able to use this same process to create a stamp die?

[dumper]

I would try to heat up the plate with an iron and play with that. I think both heat and pressure would result in crisper embossing and flat paper. You can also try to obtain some hot stamping foil (there are lots on ebay) and stamp with gold using your hot brass plate. If you get any success with the above, please update your tutorial!

[theMirrorpool]

Hello, interesting application. Note that if you use a real prinmaking paper (one made for intaglio/etc) the soak time is a couple hours, then the paper is blotted and then pressed. That emboss shows nicely, btw.

[33.3revolutions]

If the depth of the etching were more, could you not apply ink directly onto your brass plates? Then the ink would transfer to the paper, and it would line up perfectly with the embossment. Thinking of trying this out myself.

[sujancho]

Adding on to Carlsburg comment, more specifically you can get a couple sheets of blotting paper your local art store, put the soaked paper between them and use a rolling pin to squeeze out the excess water. After you're done printing, you put the printed sheet between either more (dry) blotting paper or several (several) sheets of dry clean newsprint, and put it between a pair of heavy boards, and weight it down with some books. Let that dry for a few days and your print will be nice and flat. Since blotting paper is so thick and cushiony you don't have to worry too much about the embossing going flat. AWESOME Instructable by the way, exactly what I was looking for :)

[mondoweb]

I am thinking of embossing printed cards individually. There is a specialized embossing press at the local craft supply store. I may make the plate to fit this press. Your work in time vs etched depth is very helpful. Thanks

[Carlsburg]

The paper needs to be dipped completely into a tub of water for about a minute, take the paper out and blot all excess water with a more absorbent paper do this untill there is no shine from the water on the page, ie the paper has a matte finish, then put through the press. Bathing the paper means that there is an even amount of absorption and therefore will dry evenly preventing warping. If that still doesn't work try recessing the embossing plate into the press so the page has no overhang to pull and warp the page.

[xrissy]

This is really great. Can you add a pic of hte finished (printed) result? Just to satisfy my curiosity. Great job!

[bbqpope]

Cool, I have used a similar technique to make images for the purpose of printing on an etching press. In most cases a printmaker will make embossing their last step, which means you need to print first and then emboss the paper. We usually use a press but the jig seems to work. The trick is making the print register to the embossment. Good luck! I used the laser toner process along with aquatint to make an etching plate, it's cheaper than photo processes. Also, I used zinc, etching plates. Oh one more thing..... skip the crazy toner removal, and just use acetone.

[thydzik]

looks good so far.