1. The method for converting a picture motif to a line intaglio printing plate comprising the steps: (a) providing digital first image data that are present as pixel data and represent a picture motif; (b) visually displaying the picture motif on the basis of the pixel data; (c) generating irregular line structures, the contours and halftones of the picture motif being rendered by different line structures in certain areas following specifications by an operator; (d) storing the digital second image data rendering the line structures in a vector-based data format; (e) optionally processing the individual lines of the line structures and storing the processed second image data; (f) controlling a precision engraving apparatus on the basis of the processed second image data so as to produce depressions corresponding to the line structures in the surface of a line intaglio printing plate.