Copper Dies

Intaglio Printing with Copper Dies
Typically made on copper, Intaglio dies are the best choice for artistic printmaking or when your image to be printed includes a lot of details and fine lines. One of the most widely-seen examples of Intaglio printing is U.S. paper currency. Other forms of printing that use the intaglio process include engraving and gravure.

With intaglio printing, the image to be printed is recessed into the surface of the printing plate and the recessed areas are filled with ink. The image is then incised into the plates and the incisions are carefully filled with ink and cleaned to avoid any ink on the plate itself. Finally, heavy pressure is applied to transfer the ink from the plates to the paper. This leaves the surface slightly raised and the back side slightly indented.