Gold leaf is available in a variety of thicknesses, qualities, and colors. Despite all our efforts to ensure that the thickness of every gold leaf is as uniform as possible, it can only be estimated, as each leaf naturally becomes slightly thinner toward its center during the beating process.
Gold Leaf Thickness
The average thickness of gold leaf is approximately 1/7,000 of a millimeter (0.1 µm). For this reason, professionals often compare gold leaf by its weight per 1,000 leaves rather than by thickness alone. The thinnest gold leaf weighs around 12 g per 1,000 leaves, while the heaviest weighs around 50 g per 1,000 leaves. Most standard gold leaf weighs between 16 and 18 g per 1,000 leaves. As gold powder and gold flakes are made from gold leaf, their thickness is comparable.
The color of gold leaf varies depending on the alloy used during manufacturing. Pure gold has a warm yellow color, but adding other precious metals creates a wide range of shades. Gold becomes a brighter yellow when combined with 5 to 30% silver. Between 30 and 50% silver, it develops a pale greenish-yellow hue, while a silver content above 50% produces white gold. When pure gold is alloyed with copper, it becomes slightly reddish from 5% copper, gradually developing a rich copper tone at around 30% copper. Adding as little as 5% palladium produces a cooler yellow shade. Although gold was once believed to be alloyed mainly for economic reasons, these additional metals are primarily used to improve the physical properties of the gold during the beating process. Since even very small quantities significantly affect the final color, DeLafée has developed its own exclusive range of standard gold leaf shades.
There are several types of metal leaf that imitate these colors. Beaten silver and beaten copper, which are much thicker than gold-leaf are available. There are also other types of imitation leaf made from metals such as aluminum, which can be used to good visual effect. Lastly, there are types of beaten-metal that are pre-oxydized in different patterns and colors.
Gold leaf and metal leaf are available in two formats: loose gold leaf and transfer gold leaf. Loose gold leaf is placed freely between the pages of a booklet and requires careful handling using traditional gilding tools. Transfer gold leaf is lightly pressed onto a backing paper, allowing it to remain attached during application and making it easier to handle, particularly on large or vertical surfaces. Choosing between loose and transfer gold leaf depends on the application technique and the type of project.
