Frequently Asked Questions
Answers From Artists & Photographers Using Metal Leaf and Vellum
What Images Work Best for the Various Metals and Gesso?
This is the hardest of questions when it comes to gilding since so much depends on the individual user’s approach and esthetics. Here are a few generalizations, but rules are made to be broken.
Pure gold leaf (24K) often works best on low key images, where darker tones dominate. Gold is gold, after all, and too much gold can overwhelm the image itself. A “Coal Miners at Work” portfolio might be gorgeous in 24K gold whereas a series of prints called “Snow Drifts of Maine” might look like someone…well, you know what they say about yellow snow. Use discretion with 24K gold; it’s not a magic bullet that makes a boring image exciting.
The softer gold alloys (white gold and moon gold) are more forgiving in terms of appropriate subject matter so you’ll probably find more subjects respond to these two metal leaf alloys than to 24K gold. White gold and moon gold are so different — yet similar — that you really should give them a try to discover for yourself how your images fit the process.
Pure Silver is a subtle metal. It shares the smooth application look of the more expensive gold metals with an absence of micro cracking as with imitation silver. Silver also has an ever-so-subtle warmth that is lacking with imitation silver. Silver does not cold weld (blend into itself seamlessly) like the gold alloys, so care must be observed to avoid visible seams when overlapping leaves on skies, skin, etc. Silver does need to be sealed with varnish to prevent tarnishing via exposure to air.
Imitation Gold: This affordable alloy is a mixture of copper and aluminum. With a less brash color, imitation gold works on more image types than 24K with its aggressive yellow color. Be sure to seal imitation gold (and other non-gold alloys) with varnish to prevent oxidation and change in color.
Imitation Silver is a perfect “learner metal” since it’s so affordable, costing less than $0.25 per sheet. (Are you teachers listening?) The look it gives a print is almost “hyper-white,” looking more like titanium dioxide was applied behind the image. You might choose imitation silver if the veining (micro cracks that the more brittle metals display) is an attribute that enhances your subject matter. Speaking of teachers, you can find the non-patent version of imitation gold, imitation silver and copper as an even less expensive option; but it’s more difficult to use loose leaves that are not adhered to tissue.
Copper Leaf is something of an enigma. Being an element (as in Periodic Chart), pure copper leaf presents a deep, rich color that can almost lean towards pink on some images — and not in a good way. But your job is to break the rules and discover for yourself if-and-when this intense metal leaf can bring intrigue to your photos. We’ve seen classic subjects like rustic barns, deep woods and others glow with copper. A final note: As a softer metal (compared to imitation gold and imitation silver), copper leaf applies smoothly with much less veining effect (micro cracking).
Gesso is basically a special white paint that painters use to prepare their raw canvasses. As such, gesso lacks the WOW mystique of metal leaf. But don’t be deceived, some of the most beautiful prints we’ve seen during countless workshops have been ones in which the artist applied gesso behind the image area. The gesso gives a special luminosity to many photos, with color images being especially attractive when backed with gesso.
Pure gold leaf (24K) often works best on low key images, where darker tones dominate. Gold is gold, after all, and too much gold can overwhelm the image itself. A “Coal Miners at Work” portfolio might be gorgeous in 24K gold whereas a series of prints called “Snow Drifts of Maine” might look like someone…well, you know what they say about yellow snow. Use discretion with 24K gold; it’s not a magic bullet that makes a boring image exciting.
The softer gold alloys (white gold and moon gold) are more forgiving in terms of appropriate subject matter so you’ll probably find more subjects respond to these two metal leaf alloys than to 24K gold. White gold and moon gold are so different — yet similar — that you really should give them a try to discover for yourself how your images fit the process.
Pure Silver is a subtle metal. It shares the smooth application look of the more expensive gold metals with an absence of micro cracking as with imitation silver. Silver also has an ever-so-subtle warmth that is lacking with imitation silver. Silver does not cold weld (blend into itself seamlessly) like the gold alloys, so care must be observed to avoid visible seams when overlapping leaves on skies, skin, etc. Silver does need to be sealed with varnish to prevent tarnishing via exposure to air.
Imitation Gold: This affordable alloy is a mixture of copper and aluminum. With a less brash color, imitation gold works on more image types than 24K with its aggressive yellow color. Be sure to seal imitation gold (and other non-gold alloys) with varnish to prevent oxidation and change in color.
Imitation Silver is a perfect “learner metal” since it’s so affordable, costing less than $0.25 per sheet. (Are you teachers listening?) The look it gives a print is almost “hyper-white,” looking more like titanium dioxide was applied behind the image. You might choose imitation silver if the veining (micro cracks that the more brittle metals display) is an attribute that enhances your subject matter. Speaking of teachers, you can find the non-patent version of imitation gold, imitation silver and copper as an even less expensive option; but it’s more difficult to use loose leaves that are not adhered to tissue.
Copper Leaf is something of an enigma. Being an element (as in Periodic Chart), pure copper leaf presents a deep, rich color that can almost lean towards pink on some images — and not in a good way. But your job is to break the rules and discover for yourself if-and-when this intense metal leaf can bring intrigue to your photos. We’ve seen classic subjects like rustic barns, deep woods and others glow with copper. A final note: As a softer metal (compared to imitation gold and imitation silver), copper leaf applies smoothly with much less veining effect (micro cracking).
Gesso is basically a special white paint that painters use to prepare their raw canvasses. As such, gesso lacks the WOW mystique of metal leaf. But don’t be deceived, some of the most beautiful prints we’ve seen during countless workshops have been ones in which the artist applied gesso behind the image area. The gesso gives a special luminosity to many photos, with color images being especially attractive when backed with gesso.
What’s the difference between White Gold and Imitation Gold?
The White Gold included in Kits is 50% 24K Gold and 50% Pure Silver. This gentle, warm alloy is beautiful for many types of images, from landscapes to portraits. In fact, some portrait images can look almost wet plate-like when backed with White Gold. Imitation Gold, on the other hand, is a mixture of copper and aluminum. The color is quite handsome, being less yellow than 24K Gold but warmer than the White Gold.
Do any of these Metals Tarnish or Oxidize?
Pure Gold is immune to any color change owing to environmental exposure. All the other metals and alloys should be sealed with varnish (included in your Kits) to prevent tarnishing or oxidation. It is recommended that, for any extended storage, you keep the metals in a dark environment and sealed in Ziplock bags. It’s also wise to minimize your stock of pure silver leaf as this metal is particularly susceptible to tarnishing. In other words, don’t buy massive amounts of silver that will sit for months or years.
What are the benefits and disadvantages of using spray varnish or spray gesso?
Pros: Aerosol varnish and gesso will provide a smoother finish with fewer wrinkles in the vellum than with hand-applied liquid equivalents. It’s also faster to apply.
Cons: Dust and fumes from the sprays make them less than ideal for indoor use. Be sure to use with adequate ventilation if outdoor spraying is not an option.
Cons: Dust and fumes from the sprays make them less than ideal for indoor use. Be sure to use with adequate ventilation if outdoor spraying is not an option.
Do you sell varnish, gesso and size separately?
Sorry, at this time we only include these liquids with the Gilding Kits.
Are the imitation gold, imitation silver and copper that you include in your kits the same as i can buy on Amazon?
We want you to have the absolute best photo gilding experience possible. For that reason, we only include patent metal leaf in our kits. Remember, patent means the leaf is lightly adhered to a tissue transfer sheet that makes handling and gilding much easier and with a greater success rate. As you might have guessed, the patent version of metal leaf is more expensive.
Also, the 24K Gold leaf we include is double-thick, which means it’s 20% thicker than regular (and cheaper) 24K gold leaf. (Yes, the term “double-thick” is deceptive but we didn’t make the terminology rules in the gilding world.) Be sure to compare apples to apples when shopping for metal leaf if you are purchasing it separately from our kits.
Also, the 24K Gold leaf we include is double-thick, which means it’s 20% thicker than regular (and cheaper) 24K gold leaf. (Yes, the term “double-thick” is deceptive but we didn’t make the terminology rules in the gilding world.) Be sure to compare apples to apples when shopping for metal leaf if you are purchasing it separately from our kits.
What alt Processes work with the Darkroom vellum?
The acid-free Darkroom Vellum we offer has a wholesome reputation for working on a vast range of wet darkroom processes that involve hand-coated liquids and extended wet time in trays of solution, both acid and alkaline. Temperatures as high as 212°F (100°C) do not damage the darkroom vellum.
What inkjet Vellum sizes and Quantities are available?
We sell two sizes of Inkjet Vellum:
8.5” x 11” (very close to A4)
12.5” x 18.5” (31.75cm x 46.99cm, which is a bit smaller than B3)
Both sizes have a weight of 30 lb. and available in quantities of 50, 100 and 200 sheets.
8.5” x 11” (very close to A4)
12.5” x 18.5” (31.75cm x 46.99cm, which is a bit smaller than B3)
Both sizes have a weight of 30 lb. and available in quantities of 50, 100 and 200 sheets.
What Darkroom Vellum sizes and weights are available?
We stock two sizes of Darkroom Vellum:
8.5” x 11” (close to A4) in 24 lb. weight
12.5” x 18” (31.75cm x 45.72cm, which is a bit smaller than B3) in 30 lb. weight
Like the inkjet version, you can purchase the darkroom vellum in quantities of 50, 100 and 200 sheets. Please email us at [email protected] if you need a quote on larger sizes of the darkroom vellum.
8.5” x 11” (close to A4) in 24 lb. weight
12.5” x 18” (31.75cm x 45.72cm, which is a bit smaller than B3) in 30 lb. weight
Like the inkjet version, you can purchase the darkroom vellum in quantities of 50, 100 and 200 sheets. Please email us at [email protected] if you need a quote on larger sizes of the darkroom vellum.
What if I have Suggestions or Questions?
If you have ideas or suggestions, we are always looking to improve the experience of making gilded photographic prints. Please let us know at [email protected]. Don't forget to show us your successful prints, too!