Method of making embossed decorative sheets

A process for producing a thermoplastic resin sheet comprising the following steps:

• a. forming a first layer which comprises a gelled thermoplastic resin composition on a support surface;
• b. providing a printable composition comprising an effective amount of a blowing agent and having a viscosity such that said composition is capable of being printed by high speed rotogravure printing and applying in a design pattern said composition to the surface of the gelled thermoplastic resin layer by high speed rotogravure printing;
• c. forming a composite structure by applying to said printed resin layer a second layer of thermoplastic resin composition which has a melt viscosity which differs from the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic resin composition of the first layer by at least 0.05 meter-kilogram;
• and
• d. heating the composite structure of step (c) to a sufficient temperature and for sufficient period of time to fuse the resin layers and to decompose the blowing agent in the printable composition, thereby effecting foaming in the resin layer which has the lower melt viscosity.