During the last century many zinc engraving plates have been used due to the low cost of this material and its high ductility compared with copper. Engravers, printers and collectors consider that zinc plates are badly preserved compared with copper plates. The study and characterization of zinc as the raw material of engraving plates in contemporary art is the first step of any conservation-restoration project. To the authors’ knowledge it is the first time that such an examination has been carried out. The techniques used in this project are: Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in addition to microanalysis for metallographic examination. Hardness, traction and wearing determination for mechanical testing. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and X-ray diffraction for analysis. From this examination, the following characteristics were found on each of the plates: All plates are laminated in one or two directions. This mechanical treatment was obviously decisive in achieving adequate hardness for a good shelf life of the plates and for quality prints. Lead particles can be observed in some plates, following the direction of lamination. They were certainly incorporated (as pollutant) in the metal plates during the lamination process. Lead is in solid solution only in the oldest plates. Some plates show microporosity due to the hot forming process. This superficial defect does not interact with the printing work, but it can cause localized corrosion.