1. Plural of photoengraving; prints or plates produced by a photomechanical process in which a photographic image is transferred onto a metal plate for printing.
Usage: technical; printing industry term; largely historical; photomechanical processes have been largely superseded by digital printing
2. The process or technique of creating such prints or plates.
Usage: technical; used as a mass noun or gerund in some contexts

Examples

• The museum's collection includes rare photoengravings from the early 20th century.
• Before digital printing, photoengravings were the standard method for reproducing photographs in newspapers.
• The book was illustrated with fine photoengravings that captured remarkable detail.
• Photoengravings allowed publishers to mass-produce images with greater accuracy than traditional woodcuts.
• The printer specialized in photoengravings and could produce high-quality plates for commercial use.