Provided is a method of manufacturing an embossing die. The method comprises mounting a drum or a plate on a support, providing information on a shape of the embossing die, printing a multitude of photopolymer drops forming a photopolymer layer upon the drum or the plate based on the provided information, and curing the printed photopolymer layer.

A method of producing a deforming tool (2) having a structured embossing surface (4) which can be brought into contact with a surface of a substrate (1) for plastic deformation thereof (of the substrate), the method comprising: determining a target structure to be produced on the substrate (1); geometrically distorting the target structure, such that an “embossing image structure” is obtained; inverting the “embossing image structure”, such that the embossing structure for the embossed surface (4) is obtained; and producing the embossing surface (4) of the deforming tool (2) according to the embossing structure.

A formed sheet metal material (100) and methods, tools (1, 2, 8) and apparatus for forming the sheet metal material (100) in which a pattern of projections and depressions are cold worked in a first portion (101) and, simultaneously, indicia (103) is embossed in a second portion (102) of the sheet material (100). The cold worked portion (101) is formed with the projections and depression configured and distributed such that lines drawn on a surface of the formed sheet material (100) between adjacent rows of projections and depressions are not rectilinear. The indicia (103) is indicative of the alignment between the tools (1, 2, 8).

The present disclosure is drawn to leveling compositions, embossed print media, and methods of preparing embossed print media. The embossed print media can include a media substrate, an image-receiving layer applied to the media substrate at a coating weight of 3 gsm to 50 gsm, and a leveling composition layer. The image-receiving layer can include a pigment filler having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 μm to 20 μm and a polymeric binder, and in examples herein, is embossed. The leveling composition layer can be applied at a coating weight of 0.2 gsm to 3 gsm to the image-receiving layer, and can include a cationic ionene polymer.

A decorative material including: a substrate; and a pattern formation layer provided on one surface of the substrate, the pattern formation layer having projections and recesses, wherein the pattern formation layer includes a plurality of areas that are arranged thereon and distinguished by difference in a surface profile, the surface profile of the first area is a rough surface, the surface profile of the second area includes a plurality of aligned projecting lines, the projecting lines each having a width of at least 10 μm and less than 250 μm, a height of more than 3 μm and less than 350 μm, and an interval to a projecting line adjacent thereto of more than 10 μm and less than 160 μm, and the surface profile of the third area is a smooth surface.

A stencil device for forming configurations in deformable material includes a first member having ridge portions integrally joined to channel portions that promote the insertion of the ridge portions of the first member into deformable material; and a second member having ridge portions integrally joined to protrusion portions that promote the insertion of the ridge portions of the second member into deformable material; whereby, the first and second members ultimately form a design pattern across a preselected surface of deformable material by alternating the insertion and removal of said first and second members across the preselected surface of the deformable material.

Methods and apparatus of decorating metallic containers are provided. More specifically, the present invention provides novel apparatus and methods of forming an indicia or a decorative shape on a closed end-wall of a metallic container body. A tool of one embodiment of the present invention is operable to form an indicia in a metallic sheet. A cupping apparatus can subsequently form a cup from the metallic sheet which includes the indicia. The cup can be formed into a container body by a bodymaker. In another embodiment, a tool of a bodymaker is operable to form an indicia or a decorative shape in a closed end-wall during formation of a metallic container body. The indicia or decorative shape can be formed by coining, punching, embossing, debossing, and other techniques of forming and shaping metal material from which the metallic container body is formed. In this manner, the indicia may include one or more raised portions and sunken portions in the closed end-wall. Optionally, the indicia may enhance the strength of the closed end-wall, such as to prevent or resist buckling and deformation.

A method for manufacturing structured press elements comprises at least the following steps: the step of providing an element of metal; the step of providing a mask on a surface of the element for shielding portions of the surface; the step of treating non-shielded portions of the surface of the element; the step of removing the mask; wherein the method comprises at least a step in which the surface of the element is subjected to an ultrasonic treatment and/or that the step of providing the mask comprises at least a treatment with infrared radiation and/or that the step of chemically treating is performed with the surface directed downward.

A metallic stamp and die for the craft industry comprises a predetermined acid-etched design on a surface of a metallic plate. A first layer of a metallic paint is applied over the front and back surfaces of the metallic stamp and die. A second layer of a rubber paint is applied over the metallic paint. The metallic paint facilitates bonding of the rubber paint to the metallic plate and increases the life of the coating of the rubber paint. The rubber paint is configured to absorb and store an ink and facilitate transfer of the ink to one or more substrates, thus enabling stamping of the design on the substrate. The metallic die can be configured for a plurality of uses, such as embossing, cutting, heat-foiling, stamping, scoring, and inserting patterns or designs in a plurality of substrates.

A formed sheet metal material (100) and methods, tools (1, 2, 8) and apparatus for forming the sheet metal material (100) in which a pattern of projections and depressions are cold worked in a first portion (101) and, simultaneously, indicia (103) is embossed in a second portion (102) of the sheet material (100). The cold worked portion (101) is formed with the projections and depression configured and distributed such that lines drawn on a surface of the formed sheet material (100) between adjacent rows of projections and depressions are not rectilinear. The indicia (103) is indicative of the alignment between the tools (1, 2, 8).