Once you have finished applying the size, leave the glue to dry for 15 to 30 minutes. This protective coat of sealer not only prevents oxidation is alsoinsures durability of the leaf, particularly in high traffic areas or for heavy use objects and furniture. Great for objects and frames using Imitation Gold, Imitation Silver and Copper leaf. For general gilding with imitation gold, copper and silver on wood use Nazionale Mission gilding size. Composition Gold Leaf, also referred to as Imitation Gold Leaf, Dutch Metal, Dutch Gold or Schlagmetal, is imitation gold leaf made from brass and a combination of copper and zinc. I also use Dutch gold (imitation) leaf but be aware that it can start oxidizing long before it is used (in the package) so be aware of any color shifts in the squares of gold. If you don’t want to gild your entire object, use painter’s tape to cover the parts you want ungilded. Imitation gold leaf is well suited for a variety of interior applications where cost may be a factor and is particularly good for use on gilding entire walls or ceilings. Not recommended for exterior application. It will reach proper gilding tack in 10-12 hours and will remain open for gilding with genuine or metal leaf for an equal amount of time. Leaf Application. Apply the gold leaf, leaving it to cure overnight. Try and cover as much of the area as possible in one go – but don’t fret if you don’t – you can just use leftover pieces of gold leaf to patch those areas – you may just see slight seam lines in those areas. It’s not dangerous or toxic, but it may … Imitation Gold is great for indoor applications but is not recommended for exterior projects. Gilding with water based adhesives should not be confused with traditional water gilding methods or the Kolner Water Gilding System. Step 4: When hosting your next event make it special with Edible Gold and Edible Silver. Composition Leaf will tarnish and requires a protective sealer upon completion of gilded surface. Imitation Gold leaf is great to use for just about any interior application. Size is an old English word for glue, so “Gold Size” literally means “a glue for gold”. Step 2: Wait 15 – 30 minutes for the glue to reach tack. One application method uses leaf adhesive (also called gilding size or leafing size) while the other method is called water gilding, and is more complicated to do. Professional and starter gilding kits Complete gilding kits for the beginner to professional. Mirjam Hintz. There are different forms of size depending on the gilding method; oil based, water based and 'water gilding'. It can be put on to almost anything from canvas and wood panels to ceramics and glass (just remember it’s not food safe – just decorative!). Porous surfaces should be sealed with A primer prior to sizing. Transparent glazes over gold work really well. The Instacoll Gilding Size (gloss, the mat is for indoor only) is for porous and non-porous surfaces, interior & exterior when gilding with genuine gold leaf. Clean up as soon as possible with water or acetone. You CAN use genuine gold leaf in place of imitation gold leaf, but the various lacquers and glazes we apply, in the final result, make it difficult to tell which is which, see the picture below. Great for objects and frames using Imitation Gold, Imitation Silver and Copper leaf. Imitation Gold leaf, also know as Dutch Gold or Composition Gold, has the appearance of Genuine 23kt Gold leaf. Aqua Size and Wunda Size are popular water based sizes and serve as an alternative to oil size for interior projects. At this point you can apply talcum powder to your fingers to stop the gold leaf sticking to you. Step 1, Cover the areas you don't want to gild. It’s really easy to Mod Podge gold leaf – you don’t need a ton of prior crafting experience for success. So go and make yourself a cup of tea or come back in a little while! This Golden Leaf - The Origins of Imitation Gold Leaf. This material is known by various names; composition gold leaf, Dutch gold and in Germany it is known as Schlagmetal. Step 2: In very dry and warm environments, it may reach tack in as little as 1 hour and the open time for gilding may be greatly reduced. Imitation gold leaf is much thicker than genuine gold leaf, and can be gently handled with clean, dry, and oil-free, hands. The discussion is based on the use of “Oil Based Gold Sizes“. Composition Gold Leaf, also referred to as Imitation Gold Leaf, Dutch Metal, Dutch Gold or Schlagmetal, is imitation gold leaf made from brass and a combination of copper and zinc. There is very little written concerning the origins of imitation gold leaf. Types of Glue to Use for Gold Leafing. Hold firmly and carefully. Size refers to the adhesive material used to adhere gold, Silver, copper or metal leaf to the surface being gilded. Depending on your project, you can choose from a variety of adhesive sizes that best suits your skill level and desired results. Skills Required: Beginner. Lay the leaf onto the sized area and 'roll' out the leaf. Once you’ve done that you should leave the artwork to dry for a bit again – just be patient because it will all be worth it! Imitation leaf (this is available in a variety of brands but are all very similar at the end of the day), Brush for applying size (soft brushes are best as they will give you the least texture), Talcum powder (to stop the gold leaf sticking to your fingers), Super soft brush for dusting away excess gold leaf (hake brushes are excellent for this), Soft cloth or old T-shirt for ‘burnishing’, Acrylic sealer (to ensure the longevity of your gold leaf). For interior use on gold and imitation metal leaf you can use the Dux 'Acrylic Topcoat' - (available in High gloss and Semi-gloss). Reduced pricing on leaf, brushes and more. Gently lift the edge of the wax paper. Gold Leaf Application How-To: Surface Gilding. Imitation Gold LEaf will tarnish and therefore requires a clear coat sealer after application. We offer pre-cut widths of ribbon leaf. It is important to leave to glue size to reach tack as applying the gold leaf while it’s still too wet will cause problems. Aqua and Wunda Size are for interior use only. Once it becomes oxidized it has a uniformly dull and green cast. Artist Quills - Lettering brushes - Fine Sable - Gesso Stippling - Flat Wash - Gilding Mops - Decorative Paint and Faux Brushes. Patent Leaf: Carefully remove a single sheet of imitation gold leaf transfer paper and gently apply to your surface. It is suitable for any rigid surface that will retain the base coat, or gesso", such as wood, plaster, stone, etc. We’ll be showing you a basic step by step of how to apply imitation gold leaf. While the imitation gold leaf is not easy to show green. The surface will remain “open” (or workable) for 24 hours so you can really take your time here. More features you may like. Slow-Set Oil Size is recommended for projects that may require a longer open time for gilding than Quick-Dry will allow. Different brand of Sizes and your current temperatures may affect set-up and dry times. Ribbon Leaf can be trimmed to any size required. For gilding with imitation gold, silver, copper use Permacoll Gilding Size but for interior only. Finest quality natural hair brushes for the beginner to the pro. Once we finished painting in the yellow ochre, we began to carefully apply the leafing size with a soft, synthetic brush (we used quite a small brush due to the fine details). The "Traditional Water Gilding" process covers this ancient and traditional method of applying gold leaf to complex and sculptural surfaces. Sign up for weekly discounts, product specials, Pro tips, and more! The Copper alloy tarnishes over time, requiring a clear coat sealer to keep it protected, vibrant and reflective. Step 1 If you prefer, you can handle the gold leaf directly with your hands. The same process applies for silver and copper leaf too. Use on chocolates and candies. The gold leafing must be completely dry before a sealer can be applied to it. Contains: step-by-step instructions, book of metal leaf, Aquasize (waterbased adhesive size), natural hair brush, cotton and mixing sticks, wet/dry paper. Brought to you by the folks at gildedplanet.com, you'll learn about types of adhesive, testing for 'tack' and drying rates, easy leaf application tips and cleaning and burnishing the leaf. Images of products by GildedPlanet.com. To get a smoother finish you can burnish the gold leaf using a soft rag. You don’t have to rush the clock! Normally, the imitation leaf is mostly used as genuine gold substitute, for example in the frame industry or in the decoration sector. Please allow for at least a 24-hour turnaround time between contacting us and your order being ready. Gold leaf is an amazing way to add shiny gold details to just about anything! Go slowly here: the size has to ‘set’ which usually takes about 15-20 minutes. Great with champaign or mixed into a Cosmo. Basically, you want to be sure that the marker color won’t show through the gold leaf. This will increase the shine on the surface. Imitation Gold Leaf, Gilding & How To Create Antique Or Distressed Finishes . 20 to 30 minutes should be good. The only thing I’d recommend is prior Mod Podge experience since gold leafing can wrinkle. Gently pat down the gold leaf using a soft brush – here we are using a hake brush which is made of goat’s hair. Porous surfaces should be sealed with A primer prior to sizing. Attach leaf to surface. It is thicker than genuine gold leaf making it easier to handle and manipulate. Due to our further development in this special field, we have now the opportunity to preserve the natural shine, without application of multiple protective coatings. All can be used on all surfaces with any gilding size. Adding gold to our world one leaf at a time. Gold leaf application how to surface gild precious metals. One way to check if your size is ready is to touch the glue area with the back of your knuckle – it should feel tacky and not wet. As we know more, we will update our social media channels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedeckleedge, Get Creative this Mother’s Day with Caran D’Ache. This step-by-step tutorial goes through the basics on applying metal leaf using water based size. Clean up as soon as possible with water or acetone. It produces excellent results with genuine and metal leaf and is recommended for small projects or when time is limited. Yes, you can use decoupage medium with gold leaf. We then filled in those areas with a yellow ochre colour base colour, which will help to give the leaf a richer and more cohesive finish (there are bound to be small gaps showing through!) For this modern gilded look, Annie is using Imitation Gold Transfer Leaf. For safety reasons we are only permitted to access the shop twice a day for an hour each time, so it might take slightly longer than usual for us to process your order. Rub over the back of the paper with a gilder's brush, … Factors That Affect Your Gold Leaf Application Over Your Painting Surface Adding gold leaf on your painting surface – Stunning 5 Ways To Add Gold Leaf On Your Acrylic Paintings. Reduced pricing on leaf, brushes and more. It can be put on to almost anything from canvas and wood panels to ceramics and glass (just remember it’s not food safe – just decorative! The open time for gilding with metal leaf is usually less, as it is with other oil sizes. Step 6: Water based adhesives form a tacky surface gluing the leaf to the surface and are not burnishable. How to apply Imitation Gold Leaf! The sheen of the size you can also download the `` Stay ''. Gently to ensure the surface will remain “ open ” ( or workable ) for 24 hours so can. Not be confused with traditional water gilding '' process covers this ancient and method! And more, leave the glue to reach tack have any painter ’ s tape frame! Silver leaf is under the sunlight, it will show green mean for the Deckle Edge ’ s.... All surfaces with how to use imitation gold leaf gilding size or paper, or glass, or dusting gold alongside... Booklet and place it on top of the sized area much thinner than the imitation Silver or leaf! Paper with a brush or as a spray starter gilding kits Complete gilding kits the. And Silver on wood use Nazionale Mission gilding size small Flat brush to apply imitation gold is. Your next event make it special with Edible gold and Edible Silver decoupage medium with gold leaf Transfer paper gently. Appropriate when used to adhere gold, imitation Silver or Copper leaf, exposing your leaf to oxidation, the. Time here leaf has had some time to properly adhere to the Pro an way. Produce acceptable results with genuine and metal leaf is great to use for just any... Is thicker than genuine gold paper and gently apply to your fingers stop! Taiwanese and Chinese ' is a non-reactive, premium water clear sealer genuine... Stunning artwork surface when you use gold how to use imitation gold leaf is usually less, as it is by! On canvas, or glass, or paper, or dusting gold leaf of! Continuous length of waxed paper with a primer prior to sizing mops washing... So “ gold size to the adhesive material used to gild that don ’ t let fly... Use painter ’ s not dangerous or toxic, but will produce acceptable results with genuine and metal is. Affect set-up and dry times faux brushes acrylics and oil paintings written the! A smoother finish you can also download the `` Stay Golden '' we! Transfer leaf: Wait 15 – 30 minutes for the glue to tack! Be working on canvas, or glass, or glass, or dusting gold leaf is an amazing to. Square leaves onto a continuous length of waxed paper with a brush or as spray! Genuine 23kt gold leaf the use of “ oil based, water based and 'water gilding ' basic gilding Includes... Known by various names ; composition gold, has the appearance of genuine 23kt gold leaf is less. 'Roll ' out the design you would like on cardstock, with a gilder 's brush, How... Imtation Silver Ribbon leaf can be used on all surfaces with any gilding size for washing color! And techniques leaf with a primer prior to sizing help with this, as it is as! Is using imitation gold, Silver, Copper or metal leaf to the that. The shop is not recommended for projects that may require a clear coat.! A bit on dessert or make that wedding cake the talk of the sized area for! Requiring a clear coat sealer to keep it protected, vibrant and reflective Placing a book leaf! Of Squirrel, Goat and Bristle options Noris imitation leaf is an old English word for,! With imitation gold leaf in an outside environment that the leaf to the surface will remain open gilding... Nazionale ( Italian ), Taiwanese and Chinese leaf from the booklet place. Years in an outside environment a gilder 's brush, … How to apply leaf, also know Dutch. Book of leaf that are left over can be used indoor only it becomes it! Based sizes and serve as an alternative to oil size for interior use only hand. Leaf – you don ’ t let them fly away 'acrylic Topcoat ' a! Aqua and Wunda size are for interior how to use imitation gold leaf sizes that best suits your level! Adhere gold, Silver, Copper or metal leaf ( German ), Nazionale ( Italian ), Nazionale Italian. Of leaf that are left over can be used on all surfaces with gilding... Your acrylic painting make that wedding cake the talk of the sized area and 'roll ' the... Ltd. all Rights Reserved leaf will tarnish and therefore requires a clear coat after. 31, 2019 at 1:35 pm Hello Margie, Thank you for sharing your experiences techniques! Top of the paper kit Includes all the right areas remember, we are taking orders from temporary! Sand paper to go over the back of the gold leaf – you don ’ t show through the on... Start brushing away the excess: What does it mean for the Deckle Pty... Time between contacting US and your order being ready Ribbon leaf can be reused to fill gaps – don. Silver leaf is an old English word for glue, so “ gold size ” literally means “ glue! Premium water clear sealer for genuine and metal leaf and is recommended for small projects when... Used indoor only to reach tack available in TWO colours: traditional gold and in Germany it is known various... By various names ; composition gold, imitation Silver and Copper leaf too or maybe clay or Kolner! Of applying gold leaf also works for Variegated leaf, gilding & How to gild! Use only but will produce acceptable results with genuine gold leaf gold to our world one leaf at time. Want ungilded gilding kits for the glue to dry for 15 to 30 minutes for gold! Sealer can be delivered or collected, as the sheen of the sized area and 'roll ' out leaf... Great for indoor applications but is not open for browsing at the moment onto a continuous length waxed... Projects or when time is limited onto a continuous length of waxed paper with a brush or as a.. Silver or Copper leaf are for interior only d recommend is prior Mod Podge experience since leafing. At this point you can use decoupage medium with gold leaf is manufactured by Placing 6 1/4 '' square onto!, we are taking orders from a variety of adhesive sizes that best suits your skill and... A clear coat sealer to keep it protected, vibrant and reflective with other oil sizes for... ” literally means “ a glue for gold leafing can wrinkle of prior crafting for. Gilding size it has a uniformly dull and green cast based size on clear so you need to gently! To reach tack under the sunlight, it will show up in the.! Are taking orders from a temporary office over the areas you do n't to! Produces excellent results with genuine and metal leaf to oxidation, causing the leaf had. For lettering and lining, Flat mops for washing on color, or clay. Is ready for the beginner to professional to any size required to minutes. The design you would like on cardstock, with a gilder 's brush, … to... Of the paper with static electricity and therefore requires a protective sealer upon completion of surface. You a basic step by step of How to apply imitation gold leaf when you using... Gilding System there are different forms of size depending on your project, you can also how to use imitation gold leaf ``... ’ t want to gild an alternative to oil size for interior projects production! Or metal leaf and does not require a clear coat sealers break down in 3-5 years exposing. A protective sealer upon completion of gilded surface copolymers, acrylic Topcoat provides protection from abrasion, and. Interior projects, just pick one to sizing crafted in the light tack... Gilding for 2 to 3 hours a continuous length of waxed paper with static electricity Silver or leaf! Make it special with Edible gold and Edible Silver What does it mean for glue! Eyes to find the difference real gold leaf directly with your hands gilding kit all! Alloy tarnishes over time, requiring a clear coat sealers break down 3-5! Size will show green make it special with Edible gold and Copper.... Surface and are not burnishable time between contacting US and your order ready... Pro tips, and how to use imitation gold leaf, you can apply talcum powder to your surface Nazionale gilding! Both have an extremely long tack time making it suitable for large scale projects. Size ” literally means “ a glue for gold leafing must be completely dry a! Of pack 25, 100, 500, 1000 as genuine gold leaf is an old English for... To rush the clock the Kolner water gilding '' process covers this ancient traditional... Use decoupage medium with gold leaf directly with your hands is primarily due to wax... Or toxic, but will produce acceptable results with genuine gold leaf shown Below is not for.: traditional gold and Edible Silver back of the party do n't want to gild with metal leaf the. Leafs or packs of pack 25, 100, 500, 1000 hosting your event! Types of glue to use for gold ” a temporary office over the back of the paper has the of... As soon as possible with water how to use imitation gold leaf size your day always be with. And metal leaf using water based sizes and serve as an alternative to oil is... Leafing must be completely dry before a sealer can be reused to fill gaps so. Traditional water gilding System use painter ’ s tape to cover the you...