a method for embossing thermoplastic material and the thermoplastic material produced thereby . a transverse section of a continuous length of preformed thermoplastic film is heated by a nondirect contact heat source to raise the temperature of the film above its softening point . the film is then fed immediately between adjacent , counter - rotating embossing rollers , thereby embossing a raised pattern onto the film . the rollers are cooled to fix the embossed pattern on the film . the embossed film has good moduli , low surface gloss or light reflectance , deep embossed pattern , high tensile strength and high impact strength .