Photoengraving, a producing printing plates process by which a plate coated with a photosensitive coating exposed to an image, which is then treated to obtain a relief printing (letterpress) or intaglio (gravure) plate.
Photoengraving Printing Plates can be divided into Relief and Intaglio printing plates:
Relief Print Plate: The ink-carrying surface of the relief plate is aligned with the plate surface, while the non-image portion is cut below the surface, and the ink is distributed uniformly over the plate surface and transfers to the surface of the receiving paper;
Intaglio Printing Plate: The ink-carrying image element of the gravure plate is incised into the plate surface, and a blade is used to remove any ink adhering to the surface; subsequently, when the paper is in contact with this image and pressure is applied, surface tension and capillary forces cause the ink to be transferred from the plate to the paper.
