• Engraving
• Stamping
• Gilding
• Embossing
• Thermal relief

Copper-plate engraving

THE PROCESS

To engrave is to create a scoring or track onto a metal plate, usually copper, with the intent to reproduce it.

This scoring is done either by hand with an engraving tool or with acids or chemicals as for stamping.

The metal plate is then inked and wiped three times before being roll-pressed onto the paper which penetrates the scoring to find the ink that it holds.

Once printed, the paper is polished satin-smoothed and the inked design creates a light relief.

During quality control, each printed sheet is lined with tissue paper for protection.

YOUR INPUT

To help us fully understand your needs we will use all the documents you provide us: detailed spec sheets and layouts, copy, photographs, negatives, graphics, models, etc.

Note that etching is generally used for:
1. Business cards and invitations: the copper plate is larger than the sheet;
2. Ex-libris, labels, cards, wedding and birth announcements, easels, place cards, limited editions (numbered prints);
3. Special printing requiring security: bank notes, stamps, stock certificates, etc. because each etched print is an actual original,

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Select a paper with a grain matching the technical specifications and preferably of light color. Woven finishes give the best results and are a must for engraving.

This is a monochrome printing method and the Pantone® scale does not apply.

Etching can be applied with previously embossed documents.

The useful life of copper plates is limited and is also affected by the quality of the engraving.

Maximum paper size: 148 x 105 mm (approx. 53/4 x 4 inches) for invitations printed on automatic presses and 800 x 590 mm for hand prints.

Etching offers quick equipment setup but because of the handwork required both during the printing and the packaging, there is no economy of scale.

Exceptionally fine printing and flat rendering characterize the etching process.

Should you have other parties involved in your printing project we strongly suggest that all parties have a production meeting at the onset of the project to ensure that all technical requirements and areas of responsibilities are clearly defined.

CONTACT US

Do you need a quote? Send us your request by e-mail.

Do you have a problem? A question? Write to us, send a fax or, even better, send us an e-mail, or give us a ring.