Abstract: An embossing tool for embossing a sheet of material has a body formed with a fissure for receiving the sheet of material, a lever pivotably mounted about a pivot point on the body and a block positionable between the lever and the body. The block has an embossing face moveable along a first axis, and further has a center riser configured to receive the lever. At least one resilient member is provided, adjacent to the embossing face along a second axis, spaced apart from the first axis, and disposed between the block and the body. When the block is positioned between the lever and the body and when the lever is pivoted about the pivot point between a first position and a second position, the lever engages the block having the axially moveable embossing face to emboss the sheet of material.

Abstract: The stamp (10) for a lithographic process, such as patterning a surface layer, of the invention has a stamp body (5) with at least a first recess (11) formed therein, which recess defines a first aperture (15) in the printing face (3) of the stamp (10). The first recess (11) narrows with increasing distance to the printing face, while any cross-section of the first recess, when perpendicularly projected on the printing face (3), will lie within the aperture (15). The printing face may comprise small (11, 12) and large apertures (13) as well as small surfaces (14) in between apertures, while it is nevertheless able to produce prints which are accurate replicas of the printing face. Even details on a submicron scale can be adequately printed. The stamp (10) can be manufactured by a method which comprises anisotropic etching of a first body to make a mold and replicating the mold in the printing face (3) of the stamp (10).