Photogravure printing involves the transference of an image from a light-sensitive plate onto paper. First developed during the late 19th century, photogravure was popularly employed to reproduce photographs in books and magazines.
Photogravure begins by creating a negative of the image to be printed, which will then be used to make a light-sensitive plate that will then be exposed to light via a printing press and exposed to direct light rays; these exposers activate light-sensitive chemicals on the scale that etch into it the image that needs to be printed onto it.
After placing the plate in an acid bath to etch an image onto its surface, the inked plate is placed onto a sheet of paper for printing press operation, where its appearance will transfer onto it.
Photogravure printing was used extensively during the late 19th and early 20th centuries before other methods like offset printing became more prevalent. Photogravure provided high levels of detail and tonal range – ideal for photograph reproduction. Unfortunately, as other printing processes like offset printing became more widely adopted, photogravure fell out of use over time.
Photogravure printing remains an invaluable process used commercially and artistically for printing high-quality images onto paper, such as books, magazines, and printed materials. Photogravure prints also find use as limited edition prints or fine art pieces.
Photogravure printing processes are integral to producing books and other printed materials, including intaglio printing presses. Photogravure allows images to be transferred onto printing plates with printing negatives that can be used as the base for offset press printing plates. Photogravure can also be used in this regard for intaglio presses.