Unitary doctor blade assembly

An apparatus for use in a gravure press for wiping excess ink from the surface of a gravure cylinder, comprising a one-piece doctor blade structure formed of two attached sections, said first section being made from a metallic, non-doctor blade material and including a first surface, said second section being made of doctor blade steel and including a leading portion and a trailing portion, said leading portion being of reduced thickness as compared to the thicknesses of the trailing portion, said leading portion including means for wiping the excess ink from the surface of a gravure cylinder, said second section including a first surface, a portion of said first section first surface in contact with a portion of said second section first surface, and means for setting a predetermined controlled camber in said second section by adhering stressed portions of said second section to said first section to form a rigid one-piece doctor blade assembly which has a flexural strength and spring constant not altered by the presence between said first and second sections of the material being doctored either in liquid, semi-solid or solid state, whereby said rigid one-piece doctor blade assembly can be inserted into and used in a gravure press.