Abstract: A method for producing prints having continuous tone gradation which includes the steps of selectively placing solvents on a semi-opaque substrate having a surface altering the surface of the substrate enabling the substrate to hold a colorant, placing colorant on the areas of the substrate so treated, thereby producing continuous tone gradations, transferring an image of the continuous tone gradation substrate onto a conventional print plate and printing prints from the print plate. The steps of transferring can be done either by direct contact printing or by an intermediate conventional negative. The most preferred embodiment includes ethyl alcohol as the solvent, cellulose acetate as the substrate and india ink as the colorant. Multicolor prints can be made from varying density print plates produced by differing exposure times of transferring the image and overprinting the plates using differing inks.