Translucent dye
Aniline
- Natural grain remains visible
- Leather breathes
- Stains and waters easily
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Semi-aniline adds a light protective top coat over the dye. The grain is still visible, but minor scuffs and water are easier to wipe off. This is a common middle ground in mid-range bags.
Pigmented (or "fully-finished") leather has a colored opaque top coat applied. The surface is uniform, durable, easy to clean — and the natural grain is no longer visible. Heavy pigmented finishes can sometimes be applied to leather that would otherwise look unappealing. They are not inherently "worse" — they are just a different product.
Embossed finishes use heat and pressure to press a pattern (pebbled, Saffiano, croc) into the leather surface. Embossing can be applied to leather of any grade; the texture itself does not prove what is underneath.