This technique stems from the traditional technique of copper plate photogravure. Photogravure is a method developed in the 19th Century to create continuous tone images on copper plate. More recently artists have been using presensitised steel backed polymer nylon plates to create both autographic and photographic images on the plate. The technique is similar to the above but differs in that the plate is developed in water. The water acts like an acid and develops indentations in the plate which later on hold ink. The plate is then printed in the traditional intaglio fashion.