The process

How it works

From a photo on a screen to something you can hold. Every step, in order.

Steps 1 to 3

Upload, screen, and a depth map

Upload. The sender uploads a photo and says who it is for.
Safety screening. Before anything else happens, the photo is checked against known child-abuse image lists. See safety and consent.
Depth map. We estimate the 3D shape from the photo and turn it into a smooth height map: brighter means higher. The sender sees a preview and a written description, so it can be read by a screen reader.

A height map of the eggplant relief in graded tones from dusty rose to pale cream. Lighter areas are the highest parts of the relief, and a corner triangle and braille dots are visible. — The depth map: brighter means higher.

The same plate as the height map, shown as the finished white cotton print: a tall raised eggplant with the corner triangle and braille dots, lit from the upper left. — The finished embossed print, same view.

Slide between the height map and the embossed print

Use the arrow keys to move. Toward the left shows more of the height map, toward the right shows more of the finished print.

Step 4

Matched die, damp cotton, real pressure

After the recipient says yes, we make a die matched to the depth map. A sheet of thick, damp, 100% cotton paper is pressed into it, then left to dry flat. Each print is pressed individually.

The result is smooth relief about 2 to 3 mm deep, with no ink at all. You read it with your fingertips.

Raking light across a blind-embossed cotton print, showing the calyx of an eggplant standing above its body, with crisp edges and deep shadows.

Step 5

A braille label and a way to find up

Every piece gets a braille label that says what it is, and a raised triangle in the top-left corner that marks which way is up. A written description goes with it too.

Close-up of a braille label beside a raised triangle marker on white cotton paper.

Steps 6 to 8

Yes first, then discreet delivery

Recipient opts in. The recipient gets an invitation and decides. Nothing is made or shipped unless they say yes.
Discreet shipping. Plain packaging with a neutral return name.
We delete your photo. It is deleted 30 days after delivery.

Peach shape blind-embossed in white cotton paper, a sample print made from an illustration.

The physical piece

Embossed art print: 8 x 10 in sheet of thick 100% cotton paper, with about 5 x 7 in of relief pressed 2 to 3 mm deep.
Relief plaque: A 3D-printed plaque, about 6 in wide, with a deeper and more sculptural relief.
On both: A raised triangle in the top-left corner and a braille label.

The samples on this site are made from illustrations. See pricing for the formats, or start an order.