How to Print Raised Ink

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Things You'll Need

  • Thermography powder

  • Hair dryer

You can create raised ink at home without using an engraving machine.
Image Credit: VvoeVale/iStock/Getty Images

Thermography is the process of raising ink on printed items like signs or business cards. The look of the printing is meant to mimic the more expensive feel of an engraving, and can be done with rubber stamps, a printer or a commercial printing press. Crafters can experiment at home with the height, style, font and color of the printing in order to create a look that suits their artistic purposes.

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Step 1

Print out the item that you want to raise on your printer, or stamp it with a rubber stamp. The ink dries extremely quickly, so be ready to retrieve it for the next step immediately.

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Step 2

Shake thermography powder onto your printed sheet. This step needs to be done while the ink is still wet. The thermography powder will stick to the wet ink. Thermography powder is available in a multitude of colors.

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Step 3

Shake off the excess powder into the trash or onto newspaper to dispose of. You can also funnel the newspaper and pour excess back into the package to use on a later project.

Step 4

Blow-dry the paper. The thermography powder will begin to react to the heat and the powder, causing the printed area to raise. The dryer should be held approximately 6 inches away from the paper. The process typically takes less than a minute to work.

Step 5

Allow a few minutes for printed ink to dry before attempting to use further.

Tip

If you wish to maintain the color of the printer ink itself, use a clear thermography powder.

Try experimenting with different types of paper such as bond, card stock, construction, vellum or photo paper. You can even try it on other surfaces such as wood and plastic.

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