photogravure

The process of reproducing photographs using ink, invented in Britain by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1840. The process involves etching the image on a negative into a metal sheet, usually copper, which is soaked in an acid bath. The etched plate is then inked, wiped clean of the excess, and pressed against slightly wet paper to make a detailed imprint. The process allowed photographers to mass-produce prints using ink instead of relying on a darkroom.