... grooves of the image that has been carvead into a surface. The surface is carefully wiped clean and the plate is compressed onto a paper which picks up the image. Copper engraving is the earliest form of intaglio printing, first practised in the 15th century. By the 18th century all printing jobs that required great precision and refinement had to be engraved in copper. Although copper's softness allows for engraving with free, sweepig lines, it can be a disadvantage. It is at the end stage when this becomes a problem. The image is likely to become worn rapidly due to wiping, and the softness of the metal. Steel was used as an alternative, harder metal but this was estrictive to the artist as it did not allow cuts to be made as easily. The technique of steel facing was developed in the 1850's and this solved the problem. A very thin ...

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