Abstract: Disclosed herein is an embossing apparatus, methods of use thereof and articles produced therefrom. In one embodiment, the method of forming an embossed substrate comprises: disposing a substrate a platen and a stamper comprising a negative of a desired surface feature, wherein the stamper is affixed to a magnetically permeable block comprising an induction coil, and wherein the stamper comprises a relative magnetic permeability gradient, pressing the stamper and the substrate together, passing an alternating electrical current through the induction coil, and changing the alternating electrical current in the induction coil. This apparatus is particularly useful for the manufacture of data storage media.