A method of making a composite roofing material and the resulting material by depositing nail tabs made of a thermoplastic, thermosetting, adhesive or elastomer material, in a liquid state, onto the base substrate of the composite roofing material or onto the saturated or coated roofing material, or onto a transfer surface to be pressed or laminated onto the roofing material. A preferred embodiment transfers the nail tabs onto an engraved transfer impression roll and uses a pressurized applicator to inject the viscous tab material into engraved patterns depressed in raised areas of the impression roll., then deposits the material onto the roofing material. A preferred embodiment also includes the thermoplastic or thermosetting material in a liquid or viscous state hardened or cured by either its exposure to the air or by the use of ultra-violet or visible light.