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What is imitation gold leaf?

An imitation gold leaf is an ultra-thin (0.1 mm) alloy sheet made of zinc, copper, and a small gold percentage. The perfect fusion of all these metal does make you believe that it is actually pure gold. The imitation gold foil has the same brightness and texture as a real gold sheet, but please be careful using a wrong sealant as the gold might undergo oxidation, causing it to dissolve.

All of our sheets are made by hand. The Artisan starts hammering an around 1 square meter big sheet until it gains only a thickness of 0.1 mm. It is quite a tough labor-intensive job, but it is of utmost necessity to obtain the infinite look of gold.

The gold foil is mainly used with various types of application techniques in the area for general historical restoration, crafting beautiful photo frames, and handcrafting art made out of wood, porcelain, or ceramics. Due to the lower cost of the imitation gold leaf than real gold, many interior designers incorporate the shininess of gold into the decor.

The gold leaf technique is an ancient technique when it comes to wood or porcelain decoration. From dining, plates to picture frames does make a handcrafted piece even more sophisticated looking. The use of imitation gold leaf is a relatively simple way of turning any space or piece into a luxury look.

What is imitation gold leaf made of?

It is made out of a combination of copper, zinc, and real gold. In expert circles, names such as Schlagmetal (German) or Dutch Gold is widely used instead of the common name of imitation.

Do you have to seal imitation gold leaf?

The imitation gold leaf has the same brightness and texture as the regular gold leaf. However, due to the unique metal composition, a special sealer for protection must be applied; otherwise, the gold will start to tarnish. The protection coat is essential if the gold is used on an exterior building surface. Environmental pollution would degrade unprotected gold leaves in weeks.

Can you eat imitation gold leaf?

The short answer is No! You cannot eat an imitation gold leaf, and therefore it is Not suitable for any food decoration. If you like to enjoy 24k edible gold, follow the link in red.

Applying gold leaf to paper or other surfaces

There are three standard techniques widely used. Of course, there are a few more, but these are mainly reserved for experts with long working experience. To make it not too complicated, we like to introduce and explain the most simplest way to apply the sheets. This technique is also very suitable for beginners who are still learning:

The most straightforward technique to apply an imitation gold leaf:

1. Roughen the surface to make is non-porous by using fine sandpaper.
2. Once all the dust is clean-blown, and the surface is clean, apply a fine layer of gilding milk (glue) with a crafts brush. In case you do not have the gilding milk glue, a standard water-based glue can be used as a substitute.
3. Wait until the adhesive layer dries a little bit and becomes sticky. Do not let the glue become very hard. Depending on the temperature settings of your place, it can take around 5 minutes or less.
4. Now, get one of the imitation gold leaf with the protection paper and open it carefully.
5. Do not touch the gold leaf with your fingers.
6. Gently, flip and place the sheet upside down onto the exact area you like to have the sheet.
7. Press with the paper sheet the gold leaf in place.
8. In case the gold leaf is still a little bit loose, use a soft cotton swab to gently fix the sheet in place.
9. Once the area is covered with the imitation gold leaf, let it dry for at least 30 to 60 minutes before the final two steps.
10. Before sealing the surface, use the cotton swab again to fortify the edges, in case they are still loose.
11. At the final step, mask and varnish the surface with a protecting sealer.