Engraving is a series of "characters" (letters, numbers and punctuation) or a design that is incised by hand into a block of steel (called a die) or a sheet of copper (called a plate).

When a piece of engraved stationery is made, the die (or plate) is placed on the engraving press and a "counter" is hand cut to fit it. The counter helps push the paper into the incised parts of the die. (Think of the counter as the male part and the die as the female.) The die is swabbed with ink and the excess ink is wiped off. Each sheet of paper is placed individually and by hand between the die and the counter. Then die, ink, paper and counter meet under great force. The extreme pressure of the press forces the paper into the incised areas of the die, raising it up from the paper's surface. Once die, counter and paper leave each other, ink is pulled from the die onto the raised surface of the paper imparting the signature mark and feel of real engraving.