fotogravure

Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking process used to reproduce photographs and other images with a continuous tonal range. It combines photographic and printmaking techniques by transferring an image onto a metal plate—typically copper or zinc—coated with a light-sensitive gelatin or resin layer. After exposure through a film negative and subsequent development, the plate is etched to create recessed areas that hold ink, producing richly tonal prints.

The method emerged in the 19th century as part of the development of photographic reproduction. It was refined in the late 1800s and early 1900s for high-quality illustration in books, magazines, and portfolios. Photogravure offered far subtler gradations than most early printing processes and played a major role in art reproduction and photographic printmaking until offset lithography and digital methods became dominant.

Process steps commonly include coating a metal plate with a gelatin emulsion, placing a film negative in contact, and exposing to ultraviolet light. The exposed areas harden while unexposed areas remain soft and are then washed away or otherwise treated. The resulting relief is further processed so that ink can be applied and held only in the recessed areas; the surface is wiped to leave ink only in the etched channels. A damp sheet is run through a press to transfer the image, with tonal variation determined by the depth and density of the etched areas.

Materials and variants vary, including different emulsions, mordants, and etchants. Photogravure is valued for its ability to render subtle gradations of light and shadow and remains esteemed in fine art printmaking and archival reproductions. Contemporary practitioners often combine digital imagery with traditional gravure techniques to achieve high-fidelity tonal results.