Step 1: Prepare work area. Cover working surfaces and floor areas with drop cloths or newspaper. Use low-tack painters tape to mask any areas not to be gilded. Lightly sand the surface if necessary with 220 grit sandpaper to remove any blemishes.

Step 2: Prime surface. Remove sanding dust with a tack cloth and apply a quality primer like Burnish Sealer. This primer-sealer has been specially formulated for gilding processes and is available in 3 color tones - Red, Grey and Ochre. For Genuine Silver and White metals we recommend the Gray Burnish Sealer. Burnish Sealer produces a high quality, smooth surface for gilding. Ochre, red or grey can produce fault hiding bases or color enhancing undertones.

For more information on the use and application of primers refer to the artSparx.com basic preparation resource.

Step 3: Apply base color, also referred to as 'bole'. Our one-step 'burnish/sealer' is an oil based product that acts as both a primer and undercolor. When using the Burnish Sealer it is generally not necessary to apply an additional paint color over the primer sealer. This product is available in 3 colors. One can experiment with different colors and your choice will affect the overall appearance of the finished product. Visit the Gilded Planet Bole color center for more color ideas.

About 'Bole': Traditionally, bole was made from clay. Today paint is typically substituted. You can learn more about true clay bole here.

Step 4: Apply adhesive 'size'. Size refers to the adhesive used to adhere the leaf to a surface. For most common gilding practices there is a choice of sizing available, water-based or oil-based. Apply carefully and evenly, working the size to an even film as much as possible. Visit the Size and adhesive center for detailed use and product information, including drying and tack times.

Step 5: Testing your 'tack'. - This is perhaps the most important phase in achieving a properly gilt surface, and determining the proper 'tack' time of adhesive sizing will result in the professional finish you are after. As your 'size' dries it naturally goes from a wet to a dry state. The proper time to apply your leaf is when the 'size' is not wet but 'tacky', just before it dries completely. To learn more about proper tack times, and testing your size to determine if it is ready to receive gold leaf, visit the artSparx advanced gilding tutorials at the artSparx Gilded Corner.

Step 6: Applying Silver Leaf:

Surface leaf: Placing a book of leaf in your hand, carefully fold back the protective paper to expose the gold leaf. Lay the leaf onto the sized area and 'roll' out the leaf. Hold firmly and carefully. Attach leaf to surface. The use of a 'Gilder's Tip' brush will greatly facilitate picking up a single sheet of loose leaf gold and allowing you to move the leaf to the sized surface.

Patent Leaf: Carefully remove a single sheet of Silver leaf transfer paper and gently apply to your surface. Rub over the back of the paper with a gilder's brush, or gently with your fingers. Carefully remove the paper to leave the Silver leaf adhered to the surface. Continue in this manner.

Step 7: 'Burnishing' the leaf - After the leaf is laid on, rub gentle and thoroughly with a soft squirrel or goat mop gilder's brush to insure complete adhesion. More about burnishing.

Step 8: Touching up 'holidays' in the leaf surface. Touch up any 'holidays', areas that are missing leaf due to lack of sufficient sizing or from leafed areas that may have torn away during burnishing. For details on this procedure visit the artSparx advanced gilding tutorials at the artSparx Gilded Corner.

Step 9: Seal and protect the gilded surface Genuine Gold Leaf will tarnish and does require sealing. This protective coat of sealer also insure durability of the leaf, particularly in high traffic areas or for heavy use objects and furniture. Specially formulate for use over genuine or metal leaf surfaces, 'Acrylic Topcoat' is a non-reactive, premium water clear sealer for genuine and meta leaf. Made from acrylic copolymers, Acrylic Topcoat provides protection from abrasion, water and ultra violet light. This solvent based sealer resists chemicals and may be applied by brush or spray. Available in Gloss and Satin finishes. More information.

Step 10: Apply antique glaze - OPTIONAL. Antiquing and aging your leafed surface adds character and old world charm. For antiquing recipes for gilded surfaces visit the Antiquing Center.