On the mechanics of metal imprinting by nominally flat and patterned rigid surfaces

•Insight into the mechanics of metal imprinting by nominally flat and patterned template surfaces.•Plastic flow of an isotropic strain hardening material indented by a patterned surface.•Pattern geometry, penetration depth, and friction effects on metal deformation.•Simulation results in dimensionless form illustrating the evolution of plasticity.•A computational framework for studying design and material effects in metal imprinting.