Abstract: A wiping blade, especially useful as a doctor blade for gravure printing and made from a single piece of unitary material, e.g., metal, is provided. The doctor blade has a top surface and a planar bottom surface spaced from the top surface. Front and rear longitudinal edges are spaced from and parallel to each other. The blade has a backup portion which has a first thickness and extends a first distance from the rear edge toward the front edge. The blade also has a doctor blade portion that extends a second distance from the backup portion toward the front edge and has a second thickness less than the first thickness. Furthermore, the doctor blade can include a blade tip portion that extends a third distance from the doctor blade portion to the front longitudinal edge and which has a third thickness less than the second thickness. The blade tip portion may also have an angled tip end at the front longitudinal edge angled upward from the planar bottom surface.