How to make curly maple "pop"

I read a trick a while back about how to make the pattern in curly (and birdseye) maple really pop when you are finishing it. Something about wiping on a darker stain and the wiping it off right away and then lightly sanding the surface stain off. The theory is the stain pigment gets trapped in the pores and then when you finish the wood the "curl" is accentuated. Has anyone tried this and if so, can you provide more details? I just got a piece of curly maple and birdseye maple and would love to try this.