Inlays vs. Overlays

The options you have are endless when it comes to layering leather. Inlays and overlays are combinations of layering leather to create an image, shape, or letters. First it is imperative that you know the options available and the differences between them so that you can display your image to its fullest potential. Choosing your preference of inlay or overlay can feel a little tricky but is less confusing than it seems.

Inlays

An inlay is a piece of leather that has your design silhouette cut out of the skin and a different piece of leather behind it. The piece of leather laid behind the cut piece will showcase the silhouette in whatever color you have chosen. It is typically a shape, letter, or object. See the image below as an example. The 2 black X eyes and mouth of the smiley face are considered the inlay. The black leather lays underneath the orange leather and are stitched from the orange down. Think of the orange leather as the outside layer of your shoe, purse, or wallet.

INLAY

Overlay

An overlay is a piece of leather cut out in the design and color of your choosing and stitched on top of the finished leather. It is typically a shape, a letter, or object. In the example image below the 2 black X eyes and mouth of the smiley face have been cut out of black leather and stitched on top of the orange leather. The X’s and the smile are considered the overlay. Think of the orange leather as the outside layer of your shoe, purse, or wallet.

OVERLAY

Now that you are starting to understand the differences between an inlay and an overlay lets look at them side by side. So that you can see the differences between them. Some designs will look stronger as inlays and some better as overlays. The inlay will be smooth and look sleek. The overlay can be bolder but also bulky. Stitch colors also play an important role here. The orange stitching really stands out on the black leather, but if you used black stitching on the black leather it would disappear. Another element to consider in when you design.

Combination Overlay Inlay

Combining an overlay and inlay is something more common than you may think! It is easiest to understand by viewing the example below. If you look at the smiley face, the yellow circle has 2 X eyes and a mouth cut out as an inlay. Then black leather is placed behind the holes and stitched around them. The red tongue is cut out of red leather and stitched on top of the yellow circle as an overlay. So the entire yellow smiley face is like a patch containing inlays and an overlay. This patch overlay is stitched on top of the orange finished leather product. This technique gives you the best of both worlds!

OVERLAY WITH INLAYS

Puffed Inlay or Overlay

Another option is a puffed inlay/overlay. This adds a lot of dimension to your design. It is created by adding a layer of foam underneath the top piece of leather. This causes the inlay or overlay to puff the top piece of leather adding new depth and dimension. The image below is showing a puffed inlay example. The lips are slightly pushing through the black opening on the left giving them a 3D appearance. This is due to the foam insert that was glued to the back side of the pink lips and covered with a thin piece of leather backing seen on the right.

PUFFED INLAY