A technical dictionary of printmaking, André Béguin.
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Bevelling
When an engraved metal plate or an etching are passed through the rollers of a press they dig into the damp paper and leave an indentation that is of the same size. The indentation, called a plate mark , causes a relief on the verso side of the paper which is called an indention . If the plate is well squared and has sharp edges it can cut the paper or at least damage it. Furthermore, the sharp corners of the plate might cut the printer's hand which should be avoided especially when handling copper plates. To obviate such problems the edges and corners are usually filed down so as to bevel them. A slight pumicing will be found to be sufficient when dealing with plates whose thickness does not exceed 1 millimeter (0.039 inches). The embossing caused by such rounded off edges pressing into the paper during printing is called a bevel mark. The bevelling required on photo-engraving plates is usually carried out with a bevelling machine. [*printing, polishing].
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