Gold Leaf Experiments

Gold Leaf

Imitation vs. Genuine

12K gold leaf on handmade paper

Growing up in NYC there were a lot of art stores, and it

was easy to get art supplies. So when I was younger,
I always bought what was in stock (at my price range),
imitation gold.

When I began traveling
I had to shop in other
places for gold leaf.

I came across a new world of

of gold leaf, the real stuff:
Genuine 12K Gold leaf

Genuine 18K Gold leaf

Genuine 22K Gold leaf

Genuine 24K Gold leaf

Genuine 24 double Karat Gold leaf

And they work great!

Amazingly great!
12K gold is a very light yellow hue and

works well with dark colored papers.

As you increase the karats, the golden hue

becomes richer and deeper.

So what is the difference besides the richer colors?

Imitation gold is a mixture of copper, brass and zinc
and tarnishes and oxidizes (turns
greenish) if it isn't properly sealed.

Imitation silver, which is aluminum
doesn't tarnish as much, but you must seal it too.

With real gold and silver leaf
you don't have to seal them.
They don't tarnish.

You can find really good prices of
genuine gold and silver leaf online.

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