Copper Plate Photogravure

2	Making the Film Positive

Normally, a photographic image starts as a film negative. Most photographic processes work directly from this original matrix. Photogravure, however, is a positive working photomechanical intaglio process. It requires a continuous tone film positive from which an etching resist is made for the copper plate. Although you do not have to use a continuous tone image as the source, it is significant that photogravure can accommodate and reproduce true continuous tone as no other photomechanical process can. Originally, a carbon print on glass served as this positive. Today, a continuous tone photographic film positive can be produced by traditional darkroom methods (discussed here) or by high resolution digital output. ...