A microembossable coating for paper substrates containing: (i) a cross-linked sealing layer provided on the paper substrate, wherein the cross-linked sealing layer has a glass transition temperature above an embossing temperature; (ii) a microembossable layer provided on the cross-linked sealing layer, wherein the microembossable layer comprises, in admixture, a) a cyclohexanone aldehyde resin, b) chlorinated rubber; c) a vinyl terpolymer resin and d) an anti-blocking aid; (iii) an image intensifying layer provided on the microembossable layer; and (iv) a protective layer provided on the image intensifying layer. Optionally, the microembossable layer may contain: a) at least one of methyl methacrylate or ethyl methacrylate, b) polyvinyl acetate maleate copolymer, c) carboxyl vinyl terpolymer, and d) an antiblocking aid. A microembossed paper and process for microembossing paper substrates utilizes the above coatings.