Abstract: Rolled creped paper products, such as kitchen towels, can be provided with high roll bulk and a high degree of roll firmness by steaming the dry, creped paper sheet immediately prior to embossing the sheet between matched steel embossing rolls. The steaming preconditions the sheet such that the resulting sheet embossments maintain their shape and structural strength, thereby imparting greater bulk and firmness to the wound roll of product. In addition, the sheet experiences less cross-machine strength reduction as a consequence of the embossing.