I've used imitation gold leaf extensively. I've used for automotive finishing & not for glass, with one exception......I always start off with imitation gold leaf, but explain that there are options for using real gold leaf & the degrees of carats. For some just gold letters & color borders with sign paint on the glass is enough, so imitation gold works just fine. Now one advantage that imitation gold leaf, using the last example, has, is that can be applied outside rather inside, exposed to elements, if top coated with a clear coats which generally will be 3 coats depending on how much cut & polishing will be done to achieve a mirror finish(the clear coat, not IGL). In that instance, IGL will appear shinier will keep that sheen even when exposed to the elements. Variegated imitation gold leaf, has a matte & shiny side & under clear coat is phenomenal with either side you use. Imitation gold leaf is used widely in interior decorative arts, is used for texturing with a transparent color top coat, IGL used as a base, i've done this a great deal. On furniture restoration, a lot of early 20th century pieces had gold trim and accents to flourishes being used bring out the shape but was never shiny unlike the chipped glass & glass gilding of that same time. Some of those was painted with gold paint which used gold powder. To achieve that same effect IGL works best. IGL is pretty much the gold standard sign/furniture restoration if the client wants a distressed look, which is becoming very popular again. For automotive application, IGL is used along pinstriping & looks really nice. However, in a lot gold leaf applications for automotive finishing, Lettering with an engine turned effect 21 carat gold leaf & up has to be used, higher the carat the better the engine turned effect will be. In all instances a heavier gold size is used, which is enamel based, OneShot & House of Color sizers being the most popular. I will back up Paul on his final assessment & opinion of what he demonstrated in the video. I've never tried using the sizer he uses so that was interesting to see, but to see IGL used in his experiment & to see the end result, I concur IGL just would not be good for learning or used on high end glass design. As always another great video by the Happy Gilder. I hope this helps....Happy Gilding!
I wish this is something I'd seen back when I was getting started! I tried to do some work with imitation gold that I picked up from the art supply store. I struggled with it for weeks before giving up, and I thought it was because I was doing something wrong. It was more than a year before I tried again, which was when I found your channel!
It's something I've put off using for 10 years but I'm glad I did. I'll try more techniques with it, but I've completely ruled it out for a clean finish gild.
Hi Paul, thanks for the nice work. These are my own experiences, I only did these for hobby purposes. So I don't have much experience. I did a little differently with a few trial and error. First, I put three gelatin crystals in a glass of pure water. I make the first layer and then, before it dries, I remove the remaining water traces with cotton by pressing lightly. When the pressure is too much, it tears immediately. I make the next layers from bottom to top. In other words, I apply one sweat and one smooth and give less water. I remove the water between the cotton again towards the edges. After the second layer is finished, I polish it by applying pressure with cotton after it dries. If necessary, I apply a third or fourth layer. Because cotton removes the layers immediately. I haven't tried real gold leaf yet. :) Also, imitation gold can have many different colors and patterns. Some can be plain and some can be bubbly and veined. One side can be matte and the other side can be matte. There can be many differences. The same thing never comes in an order. As for the features, Imitation gold is easier than silver. Imitation silver is harder and more challenging. Imitation copper has the same features as gold. There is only a color difference. I hope it was understood with Google translation program. If there is a mistake, please excuse me in advance. Greetings
Thanks for the detailed breakdown!! I'll definitely test it on other processes but just wanted to get the direct comparison done for the mirror finish gild. I've used some of the multicoloured leaf before and I really like the effect. Maybe I'll find a use for imitation gold, but I've ruled it out for reverse glass work :)
Thanks for the video! There seems to be no substitute for gold on glass. I practice techniques using imitation silver on glass but I prefer to use it on dibond or wood projects.
Thanks very much!! I’m glad you found it useful. I’m going to continue testing it for different uses, but wanted to get the mirror finish test done first
Amazing video! I've been looking for this information for a while. Having only used imitation leaf before for framing and wood application I was hoping to branch into glass application with that materials I had, but after testing a handful of times it just wasn't working well. Thank you for going through both materials and doing a comparison!
@@hervebuteau169 thank you so much Herve, you’re too kind 🙏 Glad you’re making money from the Ouija board!! I sold quite a few Magogany boards on Etsy before I started the RUclips channel.
@@happygilderthere's something in your design (that old noble vintage look) that I have tried to get in my designs , but I still need a lot more practice before making them as awesome as yours 👌👌
I don’t have a video of making that particular mirror, but my very first video covers the process of making a custom mirror which is the same process I used to make the Acme mirror
FWIW I think the results are going to vary a lot with the imitation gold leaf you use. I'm just starting out and already had some craft-store grade imitation leaf on hand so figured I'd use it and give things a shot. Needing a stronger size definitely tracks with what I've run into, same with some of the wrinkling though I did get a lot of that out with burnishing and adding multiple layers. I had some issues at first with getting subsequent layers of leaf onto the glass, but after being a bit less generous with the size I've gotten multiple layers on a glue-chipped panel pretty easily. That being said, the stuff I have seems a bit more delicate than yours (I could see right through it once it was on the glass) but it didn't cut very nice strangely enough. Depending on what you want I can see the lower sheen being helpful (not sure I'd always want the full mirror effect of proper leaf). Out of curiosity, have you tried silver or copper leaf in anything before, if so how different (or not) is it to gold?
Привет, Пол! Спасибо тебе большое за очередное познавательное и информационное видео, ничего лишнего. Касаемо отзывов, которые тебе пишут про звук и съемку - пускай идут смотреть сериалы и ток-шоу тогда. Они пришли за опытом и навыками, или смотреть красивую картинку с объемным звуком?! Даже не обращай на этих идиотов внимание, все отлично! Теперь по делу - у нас имитация сусального золота называется - "Поталь", она в огромном количестве производится разумеется в Китае. Абсолютно разноцветная, от разных оттенков классического золота и серебра вплоть до цветных оттенков и даже есть черный цвет. Но, тут тоже есть большая тонкость при выборе этой имитации, многие производители делают ее вообще не понятно из чего, такое впечатление что из пластика, отсюда и мутный эффект зеркала, микротрещины и соответственно работать с таким материалом очень раздражает. А есть производители, которые делают эту имитацию действительно металлизированной, и она дает очень близкий эффект по зеркалу, и работать с такой имитацией очень приятно. НО! Самое смешное в том, что ты визуально не отличишь эти листы в пачках, пока не приклеишь к стеклу и пока они не просохнут и не дадут эффект зеркала. Я проводил эксперимент с разными поставщиками этой имитации, хорошо, что она дешевая и поэтому не сильно бьет по карману. Цена у всех поставщиков была практически одинаковой +- 2 доллара, но увидишь качество продукта только после его использования и уже потом ты понимаешь какой поставщик делает более качественную, металлищзированную "поталь".
Thanks mate I really appreciate it. I'm not surprised there's a lot of variation between different types of imitation leaf. I suppose it can contain anything whereas gold can only be gold. I've tried the multicolored leaf and quite liked it, but in this case I just wanted to see how the leaves compared when trying to get a mirror finish. I think I'll incorporate in into future vids just to see how it looks with different processes (on etched glass, surface gilding, engine turning etc.)
@@happygilderПривет, Пол. Может опять я не внимательный и не видел твоих видео, но ты не проводил опыт как ведет себя скалывание стекла после клея в сравнении к примеру: пескоструй, матирующая паста и если просто стекло обработать наждачной бумагой или фрезой? Насколько разный будет эффект по скалыванию стекла? Может для себя уже давно проводил подобный эксперимент? Спасибо.
I've used imitation gold leaf extensively. I've used for automotive finishing & not for glass, with one exception......I always start off with imitation gold leaf, but explain that there are options for using real gold leaf & the degrees of carats. For some just gold letters & color borders with sign paint on the glass is enough, so imitation gold works just fine. Now one advantage that imitation gold leaf, using the last example, has, is that can be applied outside rather inside, exposed to elements, if top coated with a clear coats which generally will be 3 coats depending on how much cut & polishing will be done to achieve a mirror finish(the clear coat, not IGL). In that instance, IGL will appear shinier will keep that sheen even when exposed to the elements. Variegated imitation gold leaf, has a matte & shiny side & under clear coat is phenomenal with either side you use. Imitation gold leaf is used widely in interior decorative arts, is used for texturing with a transparent color top coat, IGL used as a base, i've done this a great deal. On furniture restoration, a lot of early 20th century pieces had gold trim and accents to flourishes being used bring out the shape but was never shiny unlike the chipped glass & glass gilding of that same time. Some of those was painted with gold paint which used gold powder. To achieve that same effect IGL works best. IGL is pretty much the gold standard sign/furniture restoration if the client wants a distressed look, which is becoming very popular again. For automotive application, IGL is used along pinstriping & looks really nice. However, in a lot gold leaf applications for automotive finishing, Lettering with an engine turned effect 21 carat gold leaf & up has to be used, higher the carat the better the engine turned effect will be. In all instances a heavier gold size is used, which is enamel based, OneShot & House of Color sizers being the most popular. I will back up Paul on his final assessment & opinion of what he demonstrated in the video. I've never tried using the sizer he uses so that was interesting to see, but to see IGL used in his experiment & to see the end result, I concur IGL just would not be good for learning or used on high end glass design. As always another great video by the Happy Gilder. I hope this helps....Happy Gilding!
I wish this is something I'd seen back when I was getting started! I tried to do some work with imitation gold that I picked up from the art supply store. I struggled with it for weeks before giving up, and I thought it was because I was doing something wrong. It was more than a year before I tried again, which was when I found your channel!
It's something I've put off using for 10 years but I'm glad I did. I'll try more techniques with it, but I've completely ruled it out for a clean finish gild.
Hi Paul, thanks for the nice work.
These are my own experiences, I only did these for hobby purposes. So I don't have much experience.
I did a little differently with a few trial and error.
First, I put three gelatin crystals in a glass of pure water.
I make the first layer and then, before it dries, I remove the remaining water traces with cotton by pressing lightly. When the pressure is too much, it tears immediately.
I make the next layers from bottom to top.
In other words, I apply one sweat and one smooth and give less water.
I remove the water between the cotton again towards the edges.
After the second layer is finished, I polish it by applying pressure with cotton after it dries. If necessary, I apply a third or fourth layer.
Because cotton removes the layers immediately.
I haven't tried real gold leaf yet. :)
Also, imitation gold can have many different colors and patterns. Some can be plain and some can be bubbly and veined. One side can be matte and the other side can be matte. There can be many differences. The same thing never comes in an order.
As for the features,
Imitation gold is easier than silver. Imitation silver is harder and more challenging. Imitation copper has the same features as gold. There is only a color difference.
I hope it was understood with Google translation program. If there is a mistake, please excuse me in advance.
Greetings
Thanks for the detailed breakdown!!
I'll definitely test it on other processes but just wanted to get the direct comparison done for the mirror finish gild.
I've used some of the multicoloured leaf before and I really like the effect.
Maybe I'll find a use for imitation gold, but I've ruled it out for reverse glass work :)
Thanks for the video! There seems to be no substitute for gold on glass. I practice techniques using imitation silver on glass but I prefer to use it on dibond or wood projects.
Thanks very much!! I’m glad you found it useful. I’m going to continue testing it for different uses, but wanted to get the mirror finish test done first
Amazing video! I've been looking for this information for a while.
Having only used imitation leaf before for framing and wood application I was hoping to branch into glass application with that materials I had, but after testing a handful of times it just wasn't working well. Thank you for going through both materials and doing a comparison!
Glad you found it helpful!! :)
Thanks for the nice video, I also just sold my Ouija board that I made with your design and wanted to thank you!
@@hervebuteau169 thank you so much Herve, you’re too kind 🙏 Glad you’re making money from the Ouija board!! I sold quite a few Magogany boards on Etsy before I started the RUclips channel.
@@happygilderthere's something in your design (that old noble vintage look) that I have tried to get in my designs , but I still need a lot more practice before making them as awesome as yours 👌👌
Good job Paul !
Thank you 🦾
Hi. Thank you so much for sharing your experience buddy.
My pleasure mate, I'm glad you found it useful!!
loved this, man! thanks for the great quality vid - very helpful!
Thanks!! Glad you found it useful!
Great comparison, thanks for sharing.
Thankkkkk you for this video!
Thanks 🎉
its like freshy squeezed orange juice compared to cordial.Some of us freaks like both in their own way :)
Do you have a video for that ACME mirror behind you at the end of the vid?! I love it!
I don’t have a video of making that particular mirror, but my very first video covers the process of making a custom mirror which is the same process I used to make the Acme mirror
FWIW I think the results are going to vary a lot with the imitation gold leaf you use. I'm just starting out and already had some craft-store grade imitation leaf on hand so figured I'd use it and give things a shot. Needing a stronger size definitely tracks with what I've run into, same with some of the wrinkling though I did get a lot of that out with burnishing and adding multiple layers. I had some issues at first with getting subsequent layers of leaf onto the glass, but after being a bit less generous with the size I've gotten multiple layers on a glue-chipped panel pretty easily. That being said, the stuff I have seems a bit more delicate than yours (I could see right through it once it was on the glass) but it didn't cut very nice strangely enough. Depending on what you want I can see the lower sheen being helpful (not sure I'd always want the full mirror effect of proper leaf). Out of curiosity, have you tried silver or copper leaf in anything before, if so how different (or not) is it to gold?
Thank u so much to show us things that we want to do, but we can't try because real gold is too expensive just for try.
Thank u for now im using the fake to learn it
Привет, Пол! Спасибо тебе большое за очередное познавательное и информационное видео, ничего лишнего. Касаемо отзывов, которые тебе пишут про звук и съемку - пускай идут смотреть сериалы и ток-шоу тогда. Они пришли за опытом и навыками, или смотреть красивую картинку с объемным звуком?! Даже не обращай на этих идиотов внимание, все отлично! Теперь по делу - у нас имитация сусального золота называется - "Поталь", она в огромном количестве производится разумеется в Китае. Абсолютно разноцветная, от разных оттенков классического золота и серебра вплоть до цветных оттенков и даже есть черный цвет. Но, тут тоже есть большая тонкость при выборе этой имитации, многие производители делают ее вообще не понятно из чего, такое впечатление что из пластика, отсюда и мутный эффект зеркала, микротрещины и соответственно работать с таким материалом очень раздражает. А есть производители, которые делают эту имитацию действительно металлизированной, и она дает очень близкий эффект по зеркалу, и работать с такой имитацией очень приятно. НО! Самое смешное в том, что ты визуально не отличишь эти листы в пачках, пока не приклеишь к стеклу и пока они не просохнут и не дадут эффект зеркала. Я проводил эксперимент с разными поставщиками этой имитации, хорошо, что она дешевая и поэтому не сильно бьет по карману. Цена у всех поставщиков была практически одинаковой +- 2 доллара, но увидишь качество продукта только после его использования и уже потом ты понимаешь какой поставщик делает более качественную, металлищзированную "поталь".
Thanks mate I really appreciate it. I'm not surprised there's a lot of variation between different types of imitation leaf. I suppose it can contain anything whereas gold can only be gold.
I've tried the multicolored leaf and quite liked it, but in this case I just wanted to see how the leaves compared when trying to get a mirror finish. I think I'll incorporate in into future vids just to see how it looks with different processes (on etched glass, surface gilding, engine turning etc.)
@@happygilder отлично! Это будет очень интересно, буду ждать. Кстати говоря, а был ли опыт например на стекло наклеить деревянный шпон?
@@KubicRubi I used wood veneer in this video: ruclips.net/video/dI0dmncfRQo/видео.html
@@happygilderПривет, Пол. Может опять я не внимательный и не видел твоих видео, но ты не проводил опыт как ведет себя скалывание стекла после клея в сравнении к примеру: пескоструй, матирующая паста и если просто стекло обработать наждачной бумагой или фрезой? Насколько разный будет эффект по скалыванию стекла? Может для себя уже давно проводил подобный эксперимент? Спасибо.