Virtual Engraving for Fun and Profit
Guitar Hero has given the average Joe the ability to feel like they are on stage playing their virtual guitar with/against some simulations of famous musicians. And in doing so it has unleashed the ambitions of millions of people who might otherwise learn to play an instrument. Well, finally someone has brought that instant-digital-gratification to all the scenesters out there with a keen interest in making (but not learning) the art of engraving. EngraveSoft from Pixation claims to “turns photos into fine art engravings”. Here’s an example of the software turning a picture of a squirrel (getting his/her nut) into a linear image of a squirrel (no mention is made of where the nut went).
This product and it’s promotional website has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Here is a link. The opening page of the site is full of images similar to the squirrel/nut pairing above. After getting your fill follow the link labeled, Technology, and one finds no end of insight into how the technology works, as well as some odd interpretations of print history. Here’s some selected quotes:
For over 500 years, engraving and intaglio printmaking have been used for some of the most beautiful illustrations ever created. The level of artistic craftsmanship and time required limits this form of illustration today to currency, stamps, stock certificates and very fine art. Enter EngraveSoft™. EngraveSoft is a computer assisted drawing program. The EngraveSoft drawing tools simulate the effects of scribing copper with intelligence. The tools themselves are smart!”
Internally, the EngraveSoft image is a vector file of engraving tool movements on a copper plate. EngraveSoft then transforms this motion file into a simulated intaglio print for raster (bitmapped) viewing.
EngraveSoft can greatly enhance your level of artistic craftsmanship.
EngraveSoft can drastically cut the time to create an intaglio like print.
EngraveSoft is Avant-garde.
If one had to decipher this all of this information, it seems that this software is a kind vector line art program with ‘onion skin’ (similar to animation programs) for enhanced photo-tracing and a constantly running filter akin to Adobe Photoshop’s Line Art filter. While all of these features can be found in some variation elsewhere, this is clearly the first package aimed at taking a bite out of the lucrative engraving market.
What more does one have to say? Smart tools. Intelligent scribing. Time saving virtual engraving tool movement, artistically enhanced simulated intaglio printing. And it’s avant-garde?
All of this could be yours for just under a thousand dollars. And after all that you still have to either print out your artwork on a home printer, take it to a local digital photo developer or laser engraving shop.
Somewhere in the Dutchy of Julich, Goltzius is turning over in his grave.
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I heard something recently about the potential damage Guitar Hero may be doing to the music industry. Rather than actually learning an instrument and starting their own garage band, kids are taking the path of least resistance and doing the virtual rockstar thing. Will “virtual engraving” take the same toll on printmaking? Obviously I’m comparing apples to oranges here… but I do think that one of the strongest justifications for traditional printmaking in the classroom is its ability to increase students’ awareness of craft and hand skill. In an increasingly virtual world, interaction with physical materials and the patience it requires is a precious commodity.
Oh, and I almost forgot… Amze, I would like to commission you to make an etching of Goltzius turning over in his grave.
If you look up Burin on Wikipedia you will see a well-known engraving Goltzius made depicting his own hand with the label, “The malformed hand of Hendrik Goltzius, which was especially suited to the use of a burin.” I would like to state for the record that I don’t think that his hand is malformed, I think he’s just flipping the so-called bird.
I am the artist/engineer behind EngraveSoft ™. Thank you for the very nice review. I liked your analogy to Guitar Hero.
This software was developed at the request of a very well known intaglio/printmaker artist and with the advice of one of the premire printmaking galleries in the United States. The EngraveSoft digital output can be transfered/etched into copper plate and further emblished with traditional engraving tools if desired and then printed with traditional presses. FYI: I removed the nut from the squirel with PhotoShop ™ before the engraving was made with EngraveSoft.
so… who’s the very well known intaglio/printmaker artist?
Good question, I’ve been up at night trying to puzzle that mystery as well. Surely not.. Joe D’Uva? Or perhaps Art Werger? It would explain a lot to learn he was part-machine/part-man.
Thanks for looking at our post Dean and good luck with your software endeavors.
I realize this post is old…I just stumbled upon it doing an engraving search.
Anyhow, the software is quite impressive. I think would have some pretty substantial applications in the graphic design industry, where time is a major issue.
As far as being utilized in printmaking, I don’t think it would stand well alone. Jason makes an interesting comparison to Guitar Hero. Besides the look of engraving, there’s the journey of creation that leads up to it…riddled with human error and problem solving. More than anything, the thing that this software cuts out of the process IS problem solving…a key element to any creative mind.
One thing that I doubt that any type of engraving filter could accomplish is achieving any level of distinct stylization or expression. Could you imagine engraving software creating something like Misch Kohn? or Fritz Eichenberg? or Stanley William Hayter? I doubt there could be any engraving software that could simulate the look of metal engraving well either. So far the only thing I’ve ever seen an attempt at wood engraving.
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