The rotogravure printing process does not use printing plates but instead, the graphics are engraved directly into a metal cylinder. The metal cylinders transfer the print directly on to the printed objects. The graphics are etched onto the surface using acids. The ink used in the gravure printing process is transferred from these carved microcavities (the print graphics) directly to the substrates being printed and form the printing pattern. Due to the life expectancy of the engraved metal print cylinder, rotogravure printing is used when print run lengths are extremely high.

UV coatings are often used in the rotogravure printing process to provide specialty characteristics to the printed products such as the following: protective, matte, satin, gloss, pearlescent and even tactile finishes. The possibilities of finishes are endless when adding UV coating capability inline on a rotogravure printing press. The process to retrofit an existing press with UV is not difficult and relatively inexpensive.