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Popular Photographic Print Processes: Photogravures


Photogravure
Doris Ulmann, photographer. [African American woman ironing]. Photogravure, 1933
LC-DIG-ppmsca-13698

Dates in general use: ca. 1880-present

timeline ca. 1880-present

Description: A photomechanical printing process, the print is made from a metal plate like an etching or engraving, using ink to form the image. A plate is made light sensitive, exposed to a negative, and then etched in acid. It was originally favored because it was possible to make large numbers of permanent images of consistent quality. This term is also used to describe some commercial printing processes which utilize screens with a pattern of dots. In the process referred to here, there is no such pattern.

Further information and examples


View Photographic Print Processes Introduction and Table of Contents

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  March 25, 2022
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