Signwriting with gold leaf lettering (or gilding as it's more popularly known) is a craft that's been around for centuries. It oozes a premium, high quality feel and creates a timeless and elegant look with a dash of olde world charm.
Gilding is used extensively on honour boards, shop fronts, and shop windows. When used to highlight important people's names, such as you'd see on an honour board, gold leaf is an opulent touch that really demonstrates how significant their community service, awards or sacrifice was to others. In fact, there's no greater tribute than having your name noted for prosperity in gold leaf!
Types of gold leaf lettering.
Gold leaf comes in very thin, exceptionally delicate 24 carat sheets. If the quality of the gold leaf is below this standard, durability is greatly reduced and it will tarnish significantly over time.
There are two types of gold leaf available - transfer leaf and loose leaf. The type of surface you want to letter determine the effect the gold leaf creates:
- Transfer leaf provides a matte finish once applied, and you'll likely see it used on wooden surfaces, such as honour boards.
- By contrast, loose leaf delivers a mirrored finish, and is more commonly seen gracing glass shopfronts and windows.
The gold leaf lettering process.
- Your sign maker will start the process by printing out the required lettering on paper to use as a template and attaching it to the glass or wooden frame.
- The letters are then painted with orange or yellow enamel-based paint.
- Before the paint has a chance to dry completely, your sign maker will apply the gold leaf sheets.
- Once the glue holding the gold leaf has dried out sufficiently (usually a period of two or three days), a black liner is drawn around each letter.
- A protective lacquer finish follows to completely seal the gold leaf lettering, preserving it for posterity.
Finding traditional craftsman to complete your gold leaf lettering requirements.
Finding sign makers capable of applying gold leaf is becoming increasingly harder, although gilding is still in high demand.
As gold leaf lettering is an arduous and expensive process, the number of skilled craftsmen trained in this forgotten art is dwindling rapidly. Cost factors have seen customers opt for mass-produced options, such as stickers and vinyl signs that are computer-generated using the latest technology.
But they can't compare with the beauty, longevity and cultural cache of gold leaf lettering.
Gold leaf lettering is a call to action for your customers.
Using gold leaf lettering as a call to action is a great way to make sure your customers have faith and certainty in your products and/ or services. It literally gives your business the 'Midas touch'.
Gold implies excellence. It represents wealth and power. In your customer's mind, it flags that your business offers top quality services or products - that only the best will do.
Just be aware, customers who equate your brand with gold will expect a premium product or service, so it's important you deliver on the promises you advertise right upfront.