Which statement best describes intaglio printing?

• A. Ink sits on the raised surface of a block
• B. Ink passes through a screen
• C. Ink sits in unengraved areas
• D. Ink sits in the carved lines of a surface

Answer: (D)

Intaglio printing works by incising the image into a plate so that the ink sits in the recessed lines. After etching, the plate is inked and the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the carved grooves. When damp paper is pressed onto the plate under strong pressure, the paper draws ink from those grooves, creating the image. This is why the statement that ink sits in the carved lines of a surface is the best description.

In contrast, ink sitting on a raised surface describes relief printing, where the raised areas hold the ink. Ink passing through a screen points to screen printing, where ink is forced through mesh. Ink sitting in unengraved areas doesn’t reflect how the ink is retained in the recessed lines of an intaglio plate.