Abstract: A process for fabricating a magnetic data storage medium includes formation of a controlled texture, either over an annular transducing head contact area or the entire surface of a substrate. The texture layer is formed by vacuum deposition of a texturing material onto a smooth surface of a non-magnetic substrate. The texturing material has a surface energy greater than that of the substrate, and the texturing material and substrate material have different linear coefficients of thermal expansion. Just before deposition of the texture layer, the substrate is heated to a temperature of 200-600.degree. C., then allowed to cool during texture layer deposition. The substrate and texture layer contract at different rates as they cool, inducing mechanical stresses within the texture layer sufficient to plastically deform the texture layer, creating multiple dome-like bumps.