Embossed Tin on Antique Trunks

Anyone like those barrel top antique trunks that are faced with embossed tin? I do, but I must say, restoring them can make you go blind. I once read how you can lay down a coat of paint for the background, and then take a roller and hit all the raised points. Sounded great until I realized that the roller was getting paint all over, not just the raised areas. Then I heard about another technique; use an oil base paint for the first coat, then dab a sponge with latex paint and sort of 'wash' it over all the areas. That didn't work either. The problem with both of these treatments is that the surfaces are never evenly worn, or flat. So now, I've given into just going blind by hand detailing each and every swirl, or flower. Great fun was the 4th photo where I had to paint about 1100 squares. Geesh!