Eleni-Gravure/Rotogravure Printing Process

I have never heard of the gravure/rotogravure printing process before so everything about it was new to me. After researching I came to find out that the process of gravure printing:
First, in the gravure/rotogravure process, a negative image is etched into the surface of a copper printing cylinder in tiny cells and dots of various sizes and various depths. These constitute the type of characters and artwork with its tonal gradations. When the printing cylinder rotates on the press, ink is applied to it by roller, spray, or bath and a flexible metal blade called a doctor blade removes excess ink, leaving the surface clean, with ink left only in the depressions. Paper is fed between the inked printing cylinder and an impression cylinder coated with a resilient blanket, which pressed the paper against the printing cylinder. The intaglio areas then transfer ink to the paper.

5 facts:

- the gravure process requires careful preparation, but it produces good printing quality and color, even on less expensive paper
- The printing cylinder can be chromium-plated for durability in long runs and even replated if desired, therefore, gravure is used for long runs of magazines, catalogues, and color supplements for newspapers. The process was originally developed for high quality picture reproduction.
- The advantages of gravure printing are the photographic quality, bright colors, best possible appearance, and highest perceived value for your product.
- It's main disadvantage is the high cost and the time needed to engrave gravure cylinders.
- The process is also used in the manufacturing of food and non-food packaging, as well as, labels, wall coverings, transfer printing, and has a variety of further applications in the security printing, industrial, and tobacco segments of industry.


Here's a video to help better understand the process:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hb3EKQv4ic