Gilding Terms "Your technique begins with your understanding"
	Gilding Features 7 Essential Steps for Perfect Gilding Gold Leaf Techniques Silver Leafing Techniques Exterior Gilding Gilding Ceilings Gilding Terms Gilding Books Antiquing Methods The Gilded Planet artSparx Gilding Store

Transform everyday objects into heirlooms.
The process known as Gilding simply means the application of
gold, silver and copper leaf to a surface that has been properly prepared with an adhesive known as 'gilder's size'. 

 

Silver Leafing Techniques	Gold Leafing Techniques
Silver Leafing select to visit the full tutorial Transform everyday objects into heirlooms. Silver leafing can add charm and personality to even the most ordinary objects. Purchase Aluminum and Genuine Silver Leaf. Also available in rolls!	Gold Leafing select to visit the full tutorial Gold Leafing might be just the right accent you're looking for! These straight forward step-by-step methods helps get the job done right. Purchase Imitation and Genuine Gold Leaf. Also available in rolls!

Bole - Traditionally, bole is a term that identifies a pigmented clay. This clay acts as the base, or cushion, for the subsequent layer of gold leaf. Classically terre-cotta in color, the clay can be built up quickly, then polished to a very smooth surface. 

Contemporary gilding does not use clay, but simulates the effect by adding a colored paint that replicates the clay effect.

Size - General term used to identify the adhesive that attaches the leaf to a surface. 

There are different types of size, depending on the form of gilding. 

Water gilding uses a gelatin size and Animal hide glues.
Oil gilding (most common ) uses a oil-based size.
Acrylic gilding uses a water based size.
Gilding on glass uses a gelatin size.

Holiday - A gilders term that refers to an area were the leaf did not initially adhere.

Tack - Refers to the state of the adhesive size. Proper tack for gilding is the point when the size is not longer wet, but not fully dry, hence it is 'tacky' or just slightly sticky.

Skewings - The bits of leaf that are left over after a surface has been completely gilded. Skewings can be saved for other projects, making excellent fillers for patching holidays.

 

Aluminum Leaf	Dutch Gold or composition leaf
Aluminum Leaf imitates the illusion of genuine Silver, at a fraction of the cost. Each individual sheet is bigger and easier to handle then its genuine counter part. Purchase Aluminum Leaf Purchase 23 kt. Leaf	The same applies for 'Dutch Gold', or 'Composition Leaf'. But due to the large brass content, this imitation gold must have a sealer applied to prevent tarnishing, unlike genuine gold leaf. Purchase Composition Leaf Purchase 23 kt. Leaf

Antiquing Tutorials "Classic antique glaze" This glaze mixture is the essential antique color recipe. Understand what colors to use, and how to mix them. Including accent antique methods like weathering, physical distressing, and creating fly specks and worm holes. Antiquing with oil glazes  What are Universal tinters, Japan colors or artist oil paint? Create the exact glaze you want, using the right materials. Antiquing with water based glazes  Whether you use Artist acrylic paints or Universal tinters as you colorant you can create the perfect antique glaze. More Antiquing methods

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