A process for generating raised textures on a substrate, in which a printing or coating composition comprising a film-forming polymeric binder, a solvent, heat-expandable polymer particles, and, where appropriate, other usual additives is applied to the substrate by printing or coating, and the printed or coated substrate is heat-treated, which comprises using expandable polymer particles which are colored or colorless expandable polystyrene beads whose diameter in the unexpanded state is from 0.1 to 5 mm.