Engraving vs. Printing

Engraved documents have an entirely different look and feel because the process used to create them is unique. Printing involves applying ink to the surface of a metal plate, then transferring the image from the plate to a sheet of paper.

In the engraving process, the image is etched into the plate. Ink is applied evenly over the entire plate, then wiped away, revealing a clean surface but leaving the etched crevices filled with ink. When paper is pressed firmly against the plate, the ink is transferred from the crevices to the paper, leaving a distinctive raised surface