Commercial printing businesses that practice the rotogravure, sometimes shortened to gravure, style are an important part of the national economy. Rotogravure printing is also an art form in itself. If you own a rotogravure printing business or want to buy or start one, in addition to having important business contacts such as doctor blade suppliers, it is helpful to know the history of rotogravure and how this technique has evolved.
Beginnings of Rotogravure
This fascinating printing technique had its seeds in England and France, being perfected in England during the 19th century. Mechanical photography had seen a number of advances, and English inventor, scientist, and photography expert William Henry Fox Talbot came up with a plan to create half-tones in photography prints in 1852. The year 1860 saw a French patent granted for a reel-fed process. In 1895, two experienced printers in Lancaster, England, launched the Rembrandt Intaglio Printing Company specializing in art prints. This same company created the first color gravure pieces in 1906.
Benefits of Rotogravure Printing
The rotogravure printing process has important advantages over other types of printing.
- It produces high-quality images.
- When production levels are high, this printing technique is affordable.
- The printing cylinders do not degrade during large production runs.
These advantages are the reasons why this printing technique is still used today.
Who Uses Rotogravure Printing?
The technique of rotogravure is valued in a number of industries.
- Manufacturers of thin film packaging favor rotogravure because it can print on thin surfaces.
- Rotogravure is an important technique for magazine production, and in past decades, this process was also used for newspaper pictorials.
- Companies that count on fine, high-quality images for their brands, from cigarette companies to food manufacturers, use rotogravure.
The ability of rotogravure to create high-quality images ensures its use and niche popularity today.
The history of rotogravure printing is rich and fascinating. The technique itself produces detailed, quality images, and this printing style has been used to produce everything from art prints for walls to images for consumer packaging. With the right supplies and a passion for printing, you can go far with rotogravure.