Does “emboss” always (or typically) imply a raised or relief image of some kind? And on the flip side of this question, what is it called when an image is pressed into something? Might that also be called “embossing”, or is “impressing” more accurate? (Is it ever called “impressing”?) And, doesn’t every embossed (raised) image leave an impression on the flip side? Then, “embossing” could mean both?
And what does “engraving” or “carving” imply? I guess, in those instances, material is physically etched out vs. being pressed into to make an image.
In print terms, and talking from a UK perspective as print terminology does vary from place to place, embossing does indeed mean a raised relief, and it does leave an impression on the reverse of the paper. The opposite, where an image, pattern, word or whatever is impressed into the front side of the paper is called ‘debossing’.
Nitpick: Not everything that is embossed is done by impression from the reverse. Some embossing is done by building the face in relief. Hence, not all of it has an inverse, so to speak.
