Method for Upgrading and Embossing Leather

System for making an upgraded and embossed laminar supporting element (17), comprising

• first application means (2) suited to apply at least one base layer (3) of an aqueous coating to a surface of a supporting element (1);
• means (4) for treating said at least one layer so as to evaporate from said at least one layer between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and optional solvent initially present, said means (4) including means to control various evaporation or drying parameters so as to verify and obtain said degree of evaporation;
• second application means (6) suited to apply at least one layer of lacquer on the thus dried coating (5);
• means (7) for treating said at least one layer of a lacquer so as to evaporate from said at least one layer between 20 and 80% of the amount of water and/or solvent initially present, said means (7) including means to control various evaporation or drying parameters so as to verify and obtain said degree of evaporation;
• third application means suited to apply at least one layer of foil (8) on the thus dried lacquer coating;
• means (9) for exerting a pressure on the combination of supporting element provided with said aqueous base coating layer, said lacquer layer and said foil layer in such a way so as to emboss the coated surface with morphological characteristics (10) which means includes an embossing plate or an embossing cylinder or an embossing rotopress roller;
• and
• means (11) for removing said at least one layer of foil.