Effects / Art
Engraving
The Engraving effect simulates the intricate parallel-line technique used in currency, certificates, and fine art prints. Line thickness varies with tonal values to create the illusion of depth and shading.
art-engravingProEffect ID: art-engraving
Example Configuration
art-engraving.json
{
"effectId": "art-engraving",
"engraving": {
"spacing": 8,
"minThickness": 0.5,
"maxThickness": 3,
"angle": 45,
"contrast": 1,
"sharpness": 0.5,
"wave": 0,
"waveFreq": 3,
"inkColor": "#000000",
"paperColor": "#f5f5dc"
}
}Settings
| Property | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
spacing | number | 8 | Line spacing in pixels (3-20) |
minThickness | number | 0.5 | Minimum line thickness (0-2) |
maxThickness | number | 3 | Maximum line thickness (1-8) |
angle | number | 45 | Line angle in degrees (0-180) |
contrast | number | 1 | Luminance contrast (0.5-2) |
sharpness | number | 0.5 | Line edge sharpness (0-1) |
wave | number | 0 | Wave distortion amount (0-1) |
waveFreq | number | 3 | Wave frequency (1-10) |
inkColor | string | #000000 | Ink color (hex) |
paperColor | string | #f5f5dc | Paper color (hex) |
Line Weight Technique
Engraving creates tone through line thickness variation:
- Highlights - Thin lines or gaps
- Midtones - Medium line weight
- Shadows - Thick, swelling lines
- Deep blacks - Lines merge together
Historical Uses
- Currency - Anti-counterfeiting complexity
- Certificates - Official documents, diplomas
- Stamps - Postage and revenue stamps
- Portraits - Historical figure illustrations
Tips
- Use cream or aged paper colors for authentic look
- Portraits and faces work exceptionally well
- Tighter line spacing for more detail
- Try green ink on beige for currency aesthetic