The plate is etched with the image and aligned in the press.īlotter paper is added to the press to blot the plate between each impression. The images below will help walk you through the engraving process step by step. Like with any labor-intensive printing process, you really have to see the process in action. The paper is then hand-fed and each piece is applied under two tons of pressure, creating an embossed image with startling clarity, color purity and depth. Once aligned, the plate is coated with ink and then blotted using kraft paper to clean the plate, leaving only the image with ink remaining. Metal plates are then hand-aligned on the press. To achieve this result, metal plates are etched with a recessed image. Unlike letterpress, however, type and graphics are raised on each piece of paper. Like letterpress, the process of engraving imposes ink onto paper under intense pressure, creating images with a unique look and feel unavailable through flat printing. We both loved those Sesame Street segments when we were kids… We had fun! It was like our own personal Sesame Street field trip. They recently allowed Jamie and I the opportunity to learn the process, and we’ll show you how it’s done in the images below. The oldest engraver in the United States, SF Cooper, is just down the road from us. Luckily, a world renowned engraver is right in our backyard. If you work and work you can get a subtle image, but there is nothing like engraving for a crisp white image on brightly colored paper. Anyone who has ever printed on a letterpress knows that printing using white ink is a challenge. That said, lately we’ve been intrigued by engraving. Hi OSBP! We’re Chelsea and Jamie from Sugar Paper in Los Angeles, California! At Sugar Paper our first love is (and will always be) letterpress printing. Today we’re joined by Chelsea and Jamie from Sugar Paper, telling us all about the elegant printing process known as engraving! I’ve asked some designers and printers to share their expertise and lots of photos to fill you in on what you need to know about different stationery printing methods.
Engraving definition series#
While I’m away on vacation I’m running a series of guest posts on the various printing processes, from digital printing to engraving.