Copperplate

Copperplate is a term used to describe two related traditions in art and writing. In printmaking, it denotes intaglio methods that use a copper printing plate to hold a design. In handwriting, Copperplate (also known as English Roundhand) designates a formal script developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, notable for its fine hairlines and contrasting thick and thin strokes.

Copperplate engraving and etching involve incising a design into a copper plate with a burin or by acid. Ink is applied to the plate and wiped; paper is pressed onto the plate to transfer the ink from the etched lines. The soft copper allows very precise lines and subtle shading, making it suitable for book illustrations, maps, portraits, and decorative frontispieces. The method was widely used in Europe and the English-speaking world from the 17th through the 19th century, until the rise of lithography and other printing processes reduced its dominance.

Copperplate script emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries in Britain and the American colonies as a formal hand. It is written with a flexible pointed nib, producing hairlines on upstrokes and broad, shaded downstrokes on downstrokes, with a characteristic slight slant. The style was taught through popular penmanship manuals and used for documents, diplomas, and correspondences. In modern times, Copperplate has been revived by calligraphers and remains associated with elegant invitations and formal lettering.