Gravure printing belongs to direct printing. The image part of the printing plate is recessed, and the degree of recession varies with the image layers, with the blank part of the printing plate protruding and on the same plane. During printing, the entire surface of the printing plate is first coated with ink, and then the special scraping ink device is used to remove the ink on the blank part, so that the ink is only stored in the ink wells of the image part. Under the action of greater pressure, the ink is transferred to the surface of the substrate to obtain the printed product.

Gravure printing, because the depth of the image part on the plate surface is different, the amount of ink printed is not equal, and the thickness of the ink layer on the printed product is not uniform. The part with more ink has a thicker color, and the part with less ink has a lighter color. This can make the image appear with different shades of tones.

Generally, the graphic and text parts of gravure are composed of concave holes of different sizes and depths. The amount of ink in the ink hole determines the tone and density of the printed product. The part between the ink holes is called "net wall", which not only separates the ink holes, but also supports the scraper blade. When the area of the image part is large, the net wall can prevent the scraper blade from bending under the action of pressure and scrape off the ink on the image part.

The ink transfer process in gravure printing is mainly completed by capillary action. When the printing plate is separated from the substrate at the instant, a small gap is formed above the ink hole on the recessed side near the printing area. Due to the capillary action, the ink in the ink hole will rise to the surface of the substrate. At the same time, the gravure cylinder rotates during printing, and the centrifugal force also causes the surface ink of the cylinder to accelerate transfer. Before contacting the printing roller, capillary action enables the ink to overcome the centrifugal force and adhere to the concave area.

Commonly used gravure plates include engraved gravure plates and etched gravure plates. Engraving gravure requires the use of electric engraving styli to engraving graphics, and corrosion gravure requires the use of laser glue to make plate rollers, Litian Century can produce and sell engraving styli and laser glue used by engraving glue and corrosion gravure.