The world is said to be turning paperless, but there is still a huge demand for custom embosser units. Getting the best custom embosser depends on what type of paper will be embossed, the durability of the unit, how many pieces of paper will be embossed at once, and the weight of the unit. Your needs will determine whether the unit will be relatively cheap or fairly expensive.
The primary consideration for any custom embossing unit is what type of paper will be used with it. If the embosser will be used on envelopes, books and forms, buy a custom embosser designed for regular weight paper. If thin paper is primarily what will be embossed, buy a light artwork embosser. Heavyweight paper such as cardstock needs a heavier embosser. Using a heavyweight embosser on light paper will cause the paper to rip, and using a light embosser on heavy paper will leave only a faint impression.
Talk with your embosser manufacturer about how many sheets of paper you will be embossing at once. Your manufacturer can use that information, along with the weight of the paper, to create a gadget that can emboss all of the sheets in a single impression.
Shape is another consideration. Embossers come in round and rectangular shapes. A rectangular embosser is better for longer messages and is easier to read. Round plates are able to house graphics in the center, such as the state seal or a library seal, and are used for business and notary public embossing.
Determining where you will be embossing on a page can help determine the needed reach of a custom embosser. The plates will be set specifically to where the paper will be embossed to make it easier, and the embossing arm will be a different length for longer reaches. Longer reaches will be needed for library books and large forms such as building plans.
Material is directly responsible for the unit’s durability. The two different materials are plastic and metal. Plastic is much cheaper but is only made for crafts and will break easily. Metal is for professional embossers, such as notary public, and will work for much longer. Of course, this raises the price.
Custom embossing plates are also made of different materials — steel, brass and plastic. Brass and steel embossing plates have about the same durability and usage. Plastic plates are brittle and are made for only a single event; they will also be unable to emboss heavier paper.
Lastly, consider if you will be stationary, or moving around. Stationary people will benefit from using heavy desktop embossers. These are made to sit on a desk and stay put. If you will be moving around, you likely will want to use a handheld embosser that is lightweight and easily fit in a pocket.