Standard Embossing Rules

We offer two types of personal embossing — Custom (where you supply us with the finished artwork) and Standard (where you supply us with text from which we create the artwork). This article is about our Standard service, offered on boxes and albums.

Important! Download our PDF to see how your embossing will look.

Most embossings have two lines. The first (typically names) will use the font you select. The second (typically dates) is smaller, and normally in caps. Please download our PDF for a detailed visual of how each complete, finished embossing will look. The PDF also includes our foil range and the placement options we offer.

Our eight standard fonts

These fonts are also available as title page options.

• Rochester
• Windsong
• Helvetica
• Futura Book
• Bank Gothic
• Lato
• Dear Ivy
• Timeless

Embossing proofs
You can request a proof of your embossings and title pages under Special Instructions. Add a note 'Send Proof of Embossing & Title' and we will email this to you after we've received payment for the product and it’s otherwise ready to go into production. Please respond to our proofing emails quickly so that production is not delayed.

Our embossing rules

For practical reasons not every font works well on every material. For example all we can offer on Contemporary Leathers is Bank Gothic, Helvetica and Futura Book with Blind Embossing. That’s because the material is heavily textured, and foiling and fine fonts don’t work well.

Scroll down for our detailed rules and recommendations. If necessary please discuss what’s available with your clients before placing your order.

These rules are also built into our ordering platform so orders can't be placed that we can't deliver.

Embossing rules (summary by material)

Detailed tables follow.

Not all custom fonts will be suitable for embossing — treat the following as general guidance only.

Contemporary Leather: Blind Embossing only in Bank Gothic, Helvetica or Futura Book. Custom fonts on approval. We Blind emboss with clear foil to get a readable result.

Classic Leather: All standard fonts, both Blind and Foil embossed. Custom fonts allowed.

Vintage Leather: All standard fonts, both Blind and Foiled. Custom fonts allowed. When we blind emboss we use a clear foil, which allows us to add more heat and pressure for a more defined/better result with no risk of burning the leather.

Buckram: All standard fonts,  both Blind and Foiled. Custom fonts allowed.

Sand, Misty Coast, Driftwood and Breeze Linen: All standard fonts. Custom fonts allowed. Gold or White Foil only. 

All other linens: All standard fonts. Custom fonts allowed. No Steel or Copper foil with Helvetica or Bank Gothic. All the foils are available with the other fonts, but no Blind embossing.

Silks: We can emboss Rochester, Lato, Dear Ivy, Timeless and Windsong with Gold or Silver Foil. Custom fonts allowed (lighter weight fonts recommended).

Micro Leathers: All standard fonts, both Blind and Foiled. Custom fonts allowed.

Copy Albums: You can request Companion Embossing (using the same block as the main album) on 10" Copy Albums but not 7" or 5".