Forums.NitroExpress.com

Here are some examples of Bulino Engraving. These engravings were done by an Austrian named Richter Gravuren. His website, in German, can be found HERE.

For those not familiar with Bulino style engraving, the following, taken from Adone Galleries website (http://www.engravingarts.com/Glossary2.html), is a description of the technique used to create some of the most realistic engraving images.

BULINO ENGRAVING --- Engraving high definition images by means of a small graver using hand force to produce micro lines or micro dots.

BULINO DOTTING --- Engraving extremely high definition images by producing thousands or even millions of micro dots into the surface of the metal controlling tonal reflection density changes from light to dark by means of manipulating light and or light absorption. In general there will be several tones between light and dark which will represent gray's, these are called mid tones and in general contain most of the details of a specific image.

A standard black and white photograph will be gauged on a 16 step gray scale and will have a mid tone range of at least 8 steps. Shadow tones will have at least 5 steps on the scale and highlight tones at least 3 steps, making a total of 16 steps. For the graphic arts print industry 16 to 24 steps are available even though realistically the eye will not be able to differentiate more than 8 steps possibly 12.

Knowing this means that you can now target how many tones you need to produce on steel to create photo realism. Knowing and being able to produce it are two different things. You will likely find that the first 3 tones are easily achieved, Moving beyond 4 presents many problems as metals are not paper and react differently. I have successfully produced 7 tones and still striving for more however I feel that if achievable anything beyond 8 would not be noticeably visible and therefore largely a waste of time. Still the challenge does beckon me to try for as many as possible.

This technique has the capability of producing near photo realism including full 3D imagery and is considered the most difficult and most prestigious part of an engraving. Bulino dotting is a painstaking long winded approach and when in the hands of a well versed engraver will define the most complex and realistic of results. It is however the most expensive technique to produce per inch and much care must be taken to prevent damage to the refined image after engraving.

--------------------
Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE

Post Extras