Photo-engravings

Photo-engravings

Photo-engraving is a printing process that involves transferring photographic images onto a printing plate. This process was developed in the 19th century and revolutionized the printing industry by allowing for the reproduction of photographic images in print. The process involves several steps, including preparing the photographic image, transferring it onto a metal plate, and etching the plate with acid to create the printing surface. The first step in the process of photo-engraving is to create a photographic image. This can be done using a camera or by creating a negative of an existing image. The negative is then placed onto a metal plate coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. The plate is exposed to light, which causes the emulsion to harden in the areas that have been exposed. The plate is then washed in a chemical solution to remove the unexposed emulsion. The next step is to etch the plate with acid to create the printing surface. The plate is coated with a resist material, which protects the areas that are not to be etched. The plate is then immersed in an acid bath, which eats away at the exposed metal. The longer the plate is left in the acid, the deeper the etching will be. Once the etching is complete, the resist material is removed, and the plate is ready for printing. Photo-engraving has been used to create high-quality reproductions of photographs and other images for use in books, magazines, and other printed materials. The process has been largely replaced by digital printing technologies, but it is still used in some specialized applications, such as the production of fine art prints.

printing, photographic images, metal plate, acid etching, resist material

— Steven Thompson

CITATION : "Steven Thompson. 'Photo-engravings.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=396164 (Accessed on September 08, 2025)"