A process for high pressure embossing a single ply of paper and the paper produced thereby. The embossing process requires two rolls, a pattern roll 30 and an anvil roll 32. The rolls are loaded together at a pressure of at least 1000 psi at the nip. A single ply of paper is embossed in the nip. The embossments of the paper do not extend outwardly beyond the thickness of the paper to have any out-of-plane deformation. The embossments are typically glassined. The resulting paper has an aesthetically pleasing appearance, without undue loss of tensile strength from the embossing process.