Repoussé raises a design from the back of a metal sheet; chasing refines or depresses the design from the front. In practice, workshops may use cycles of both. The metal is supported by pitch, stakes, sand, or other backing materials. Punched dots, ring punches, textured grounds, and modeled relief can create lively surfaces without adding another metal.

Relief work appears on vessels, trays, bowls, boxes, jewelry, plaques, architectural fittings, and arms. It can outline figures, emphasize inscriptions, create floral scrolls, texture backgrounds, or strengthen formal divisions. In some periods, chased ornament works with inlay: the surface is first modeled or engraved, then inlaid and darkened.

A good page should show front and back diagrams, tool shapes, and before/after close-ups. It should clarify that chased lines can look similar to engraved lines in photographs, but the tool action and surface displacement differ.