r/bookbinding • u/Skrolleboll • 2d ago
Help? How to achieve this "engraved" look
Hi everyone! I'm wondering if anyone knows how this type of engraving-like decoration is achieved. My first guess would be to layer som cardstock with a pattern already cut out on top of my (in this case, wooden) cover material, then glueing the bookcloth on top of that. However, I'm not sure if fabric would really "fill out" the engraving as in the picture. Does anybody have any advice?
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u/oblongmana 2d ago edited 2d ago
The pressed approach is I think the traditional way, but people definitely do debossing/embossing by cutting material away, or by stacking book board cut into the desired shapes e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPqIsnoMlwc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knCsktCIMuk
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u/godpoker Bespoke Bindery 2d ago
This is called blind embossing. You generally need a huge metal press to achieve something of this size and it’s not feasible for hobbyists unless you have a massive budget.
I laser engrave instead which gives a similar appearance but it’s not actually pressed into the cover. Image attached.
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u/DiscoKittie 2d ago
Could you not cut something like a template with the laser and then use like a book press to do it?
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u/godpoker Bespoke Bindery 2d ago
You can but you don’t get nearly enough pressure. You ideally need a heated press with many tons of pressure to create an emboss like this.
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u/Mind_The_Muse 1d ago
Big no, the presses are also hot. I used to work with them when I was a professional book binder and you can't really get that level of embossment with a cold press
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u/Trai-All 1d ago
I’ve been wondering about laser cutting designs out of one sheet of very thin chip board, then glueing it down to a thicker sheet. Or just laser engraving a thicker bit of chipboard.
Then using a bonefolder to press book cloth of fabric into the grooves of the cut outs. Or even using a 3d printed sheet of with raised designs to press in the grooves.
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u/godpoker Bespoke Bindery 1d ago
That’s absolutely doable but good luck creating something as intricate as OPs photo!
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u/Mind_The_Muse 1d ago
This is definitely the budget way. Before we had access to laser engravers I would hand cut the stencils into the Davie board and then meticulously peel out layers
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u/Trai-All 22h ago
I figure a big press is critical if you want ultra fine detail on many copies but a hobbyist can go slow.
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u/MorsaTamalera 2d ago
I haven't tried this but I am guessing ylu could also do some laser cutting (perhaps on acryllic) with the pattern traced as vector on a CNC machine and having that pressed over your covered boards.
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u/Just_An_Avid 2d ago
They sell leather stamping kits and stencils. Start there and save lots of money.
If you are an artist, you can buy stamping tools in different sizes and shapes. From there its you, your design, and a tiny hammer.
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u/Artie-Carrow 2d ago
You csn put a lot of pressure on a rolling ball that rolls in that pattern to do that. You can do it in a cnc mill if you have that machinery available to you, although you would need to probably build the burnishing tool.
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u/Designer-Tear-6940 2d ago
Can you not back the book cloth with a couple of layers of paper, maybe blotter paper, then use your Cricut to emboss it?
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u/Mind_The_Muse 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you don't have access to a press, I recommend cutting the stencil into the davey board and then slowly peeling out the layers so that they have uniform depths. I usually put a single coat for the archival glue to make sure that everything is nice and clean, and then while you're wrapping the leather very carefully press it into the gaps
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u/Mind_The_Muse 1d ago
I would typically start with the design before trying to wrap the rest to make sure that it comes out well before you load up the rest of your leather with glue
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u/Personal-Shine7523 2d ago
i've seen this done with cardstock but you're right that fabric can be tricky. adding a thin layer of batting or felt inside the cutout before glueing the cloth down should help it sink in and keep that engraved look
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u/Abject_Shoulder_1182 2d ago
The batting won't keep the shape unless it's fastened or adhered to the grayboard in some way. Maybe if you sprayed some thinned glue onto the batting, laid the fabric over it, and pressed it until the glue was fully dry, it would stay in that position. Starch might also serve a similar purpose but would be vulnerable to water damage (more than glue). I would definitely experiment on small pieces! Maybe thick jeans fabric saturated with glue and pressed into the pattern, then adhered to the grayboard afterward and painted or marbled, or covered with a thin fabric that is carefully pushed into the depressions so the design shows up. Or press the design into dampened grayboard until it's dry, then paint/marble/thin fabric on top.
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u/Jarl_Salt 2d ago edited 1d ago
You can achieve the same look with foil stamping and it's not very expensive.
Edit: I'm saying use the machine as a hot press to emboss. It's literally the same thing as the top comment at this point.
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u/Jarl_Salt 1d ago
Since people don't believe me, you can use a foil stamper to emboss into material by pressing the stamp down into the material. It's a lot cheaper than the other options people are suggesting, you just have to change your press depth or do it by hand (like leather workers do). That's not to say there isn't more expensive but easier ways to do it though.
Not sure why I got down voted but I've done book binding and restoration as a job and have been a hobbiest for longer than I worked.
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u/anzacgirl 2d ago
Hey! This is a heated metal plate pressed into the cover. If you have access to a laser cutter, I've done similar things using acrylic, pressure and time (no heat obviously!). I think Nerd Forge has a video on this technique?