Gold Leaves for your Gilding projects - Gold and Silver

Pure gold leaf or imitation gold leaf gilding is used for decoration on a great diversity of materials (books and illuminations, statues, frames, objects...).

Among all types of existing gold leaves, we offer 3 choices of gold leaves (to select in the VERSION menu):

- Imitation gold (copper and zinc)

- Imitation silver (copper and zinc)

Each book contains 25 gold leaves.

How to cover a surface with gold leaf?

Read our instructions (3 different techniques) and watch our 3 videos

Gold leaf can be applied onto almost any object. In general, a thin layer of glue is used first on the surface to ensure adherence. The gilding is to be applied with a brush made of natural bristles if possible — very soft and very flexible. The techniques also apply to silver and copper sheets.

1/ Easy Technique on any support 

Make sure that the surface is non-porous, glossy or finely sanded.

Use masking tapes to create your own custom design.

Apply a thin layer of glue, as thin as possible, using a glue brush or an airbrush (our water- or solvent-based glues may be used).

Wait until the adhesive is almost dry but tacky. Depending on the temperature, it takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Remove the protective sheet while preserving the gold leaf flat (avoid the formation of wrinkles by keeping the gold leaf very flat), and then carefully press the side of the object to gild onto the leaf.

Flip over the item, then press the golden surface with a piece of cotton or a light, soft object (for example, a tuft of cotton wrapped in velvet).

Allow to dry about twenty minutes to make sure that the gold leaf is sticking.

Finish by polishing with a tuft of cotton using circular movements to ensure that the gold leaf sticks to all edges.

Then remove the outlines of the leaves (masking) and apply a clear coat. Topcoating serves to protect, and any of our varnishes can be used.

2/ Ancient and traditional technique – the vertical approach

Spray a little distilled water onto the surface of the substrate, for example with a spray bottle used for cleaning windows.

Use a large gilding brush to raise the leaf by static electricity (quickly rub the brush against your hair to create a static charge).

Apply the gold leaf onto the surface and dab.

Spray a thin veil of water between each layer and continue to cover the surface by overlapping layers. Dry with the aid of a hair dryer.

Buffing is done with a tuft of cotton; it helps to gently spread the layers and will remove any excess of gold leaf.

Spray water again, then cover with more gold leaves if you want to add thickness.

3/ « Custom » bodywork gold leafing

Watch the videos

Work on a clean and sanded surface (remove all residues with adhesive buffers).

Create a design with masking tape, then cut with a very sharp blade (surgical-type blade).

Apply the glue with a brush or a spray. From this moment, you have approximately 10 minutes before the glue is almost dry and becomes slightly tacky. Do not apply the gold leaf until part of the glue has evaporated. Always check with the back of your finger.

Remove the masking tape: you will get a sticky surface following the design outlines.

Using the protective paper sheet, lift carefully the gold leaf and apply it onto the glued surface.

Note that, if you wish, you can dry with a hot air source, then polish gently with a tuft of cotton and remove any excess gold leaf that is not on the sticky surface.

Perfect and protect the gold leaf outlines with a painted line using the technique of pinstriping.

It is possible not to work with masking tape, but to directly draw with the glue brush in order to make the golden leaves adhere.

To create a “whirlwind” effect during polishing, apply some pressure with a circular motion.

 

Tips

What to do with gold leaf debris?

They can be used to buff reliefs, or they can also be ground and then incorporated into a transparent base to make gold paint.

Use a make-up brush if you don't find an appropriate brush — it works very well.

Wear vinyl gloves.

Find here our creative tool "Spinner" for gold leaf, allowing you to create spiral patterns.