Hodgins Engraving & the WNY Book Arts Center Collaboration
Becky Almeter, President of Hodgins Engraving, collaborated with the Western New York Book Arts Center to give an in-depth look into the process of intaglio, also known as engraving or die stamping. She discusses what engraving is (as a print process) and how the individual components are manufactured to create the finished product.
Intaglio Engraving Process
The intaglio engraving process was first invented in 1430 in Germany, and has been a beloved process by artists and engravers for centuries for its accurate, crisp impressions and stunning results. The process has remained relatively unchanged to today, which is part of what makes it a unique printing approach for contemporary designs. Today, engraving shops like Hodgins Engraving Co. often use intaglio to create diplomas, custom stationary, formal invitations, and other professional and legal documents.
In the video, Becky dives into how the copper dies are made, how the press works to create the impressions, the features of engraving ink, the role of different paper textures, important design considerations for intaglio, and more.
This was an interactive discussion and Becky had the chance to answer many excellent questions from the audience about the intaglio process and its modern applications. Check out this video for everything you need to know as an introduction to intaglio, engraving or die stamping!