It is not inset....However it has a plastic coating over the top of it....I am thinking it is done like those old button pinbacks were made years ago.......if you know what I am talking about......where you take a picture or image and you would put on a metal button back then place the image on it and they had a plastic sheet and a special tool that would make the plastic conform around the button.....you know what I am talking about? probably utube it and you will see what I mean....But then the entire image appears to be glued on to the knob......It seems well done but honestly I never used it so I don't know how long it would hold up......Maybe use my link from ebay and ask him questions and check his feedback reports or complaints