Photogravure photo etching

An innovative method promoted in the late 19th century, it is the making of hard-copy images or prints from photographs with the result being an image composed of fine lines rather than dots, which allows for more subtle transfer of light and shadowing. Photogravure prints are created by using light-sensitive gelatin, a grid as the image transferring guide, a pure copper plate, ink applied to hollowed out pits on the plate, and an etching press. Resulting prints have shades from black to warm grays. The word 'gravure' refers to the 'grainy' appearance created by dusted rosin, which is part of the very time-consuming process that today is used primarily by fine-art photographers. Karl Blossfeldt has created many photogravure botanical prints. Others associated with the process are Alfred Stieglitz, Albin Langdon Coburn, Ernest Bradshaw, and Edward Curtis. Paul Strand did one of the last major portfolios of photogravures, "Mexican Portfolio", 1940. Sources: www.finerareprints.com/articles/photogravure.html; www.photogravure.com/process/process_printing.html' Wikipedia-Photogravure