a printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate; the plate is smeared with ink and wiped clean, then the ink left in the recesses makes the print
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glyptic art consisting of a sunken or depressed engraving or carving on a stone or gem (as opposed to cameo)
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Intaglio \In*tagl"io\, n.; pl. E. {Intaglius}, It. {Intagli}. [It., fr. intagliare to engrave, carve; pref. in- in + tagliare to cut, carve. See {Detail}.] A cutting or engraving; a figure cut into something, as a gem, so as to make a design depressed below the surface of the material; hence, anything so carved or impressed, as a gem, matrix, etc.; -- opposed to {cameo}. Also used adjectively.
In terms of quality, Mr. Lawrence says, private contractors "haven't begun to compete" with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Also, collectors simply prefer the bureau's elegant but expensive method of intaglio engraving.