Can I emboss any design element on a gloss business card?

Not every element embosses well. The die physically shapes the paper, so bold, simple forms reproduce cleanly while fine detail can smear or flatten. Design with the technique in mind and the results stay crisp.

• Works well: logos, large text, thick borders, and solid graphic shapes.
• Avoid: fine lines under 1pt, tiny text, and highly detailed illustrations.
• Keep strokes chunky, since thin elements lose definition when raised.
• Give embossed elements some breathing room so neighboring detail is not distorted.

If a design has intricate detail you love, consider embossing only the boldest part of it and printing the rest normally.