The engraving process is the practice osf incising a design into a hard, flat or circular surface, by cutting grooves into it. The desired outcome may be manifold. Sometimes, it may be an end in itself.

Like a decorative object in itself, as when silver or gold are engraved. Engraving process may provide an intaglio plate, when copper is engraved. Engraving process may even provide a relief print block when wood is engraved.

Engravers of the engraving process use a hardened steel tool called a burin to cut the design into the surface.

Traditionally a copper plate is used. Gravers come in different shapes and sizes that yield different line types in the engraving process.

The burin in the engraving process produces a special and recognizable quality of line that is characterized by its steady, deliberate appearance and clean edges.

Flat gravers are used for doing fill work on letters, as well as most musical instrument engraving process.

Round gravers are commonly used on silver to csreate bright cuts in the engraving process.

It is also used on other hard-to-cut metals such as nickel and steel.

Burins are shaped either square or elongated diamond-shaped and used for cutting straight lines.

Other tools are also used in the engraving process. These are mezzotint rockers, roulets and burnishers are used for texturing effects.

Owing to the high level of microscopic detail that can be achieved by a master engraver, counterfeiting of engraved designs is almost impossible, and modern banknotes are almost always engraved.