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Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking or photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a high quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a photograph. The various steps to achieve a final print can be and are highly toxic.
Photopolymere Gravure was developed to overcome the toxicity of the older photogravure process. PP Gravure starts with a film or digital image. If film, the image must be scanned to create a digital file. The digital file is then processed to create a well-balanced positive image. My method at this point is to apply an adjustment layer in Photoshop™ and print out the image as a positive on film. I then expose a steel-backed plate layered with a photosensitive emulsion on which I have placed the film positive to UV light, either the sun, or for consistency to a UV lamp housed in an exposure unit. The exposed plate is then washed in water, which develops the image. At this point I resume the old workflow by inking the plate, laying a piece of paper over it, and running it through a press.
Below are some examples of current work. For more information, please visit photopolymergravure.com
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