The introduction of engraving made it possible to reproduce the beautiful handwriting and ornate book illustrations. Many of the engraving styles available today can be traced back to these early calligraphic styles. The beauty of engraving lies in the contrasting thick and thin lines, creating a three-dimensional quality. Look closely at an engraved invitation or business card. You'll see that, while all the lettering is raised, some lines are raised more than others.
Heavy lines are more pronounced, while thin lines are more delicate.
No other process is capable of creating this multilevel effect. The most popular method used today is photoengraving. The plate is treated with a photo-sensitive coating, exposed to light, and then etched in an acid bath, creating what's called the engraving die. In many cases, careful hand-tooling by an engraving artist may be required after etching. With the die now secured on the press, ink is added to only the engraved areas, and any excess ink is wiped away.