1000+ questions about gold, silver, and metal leaf; gilding supplies, tools, techniques; edibles; craftwork; and troubleshooting.
Composition gold leaf can tarnish or discolor, especially with moisture, fingerprints, or the wrong sealer. Use protection suited to the material and environment.
Composition gold leaf can tarnish or discolor without the right sealer and environment.
Most metal leaf is intended for indoor decorative use. Outdoor exposure, humidity, abrasion, and incompatible coatings can shorten its life or change the color.
Most failures come from the wrong material, poor surface preparation, fingerprints, moisture, abrasion, missed tack window, or incompatible sealer. Food questions should be answered with edible products only; exterior questions should be answered with exterior-suitable materials and preparation.
Imitation, composition, and metal leaf create decorative metallic finishes, but they are not genuine gold.
Metal leaf includes composition gold, aluminum, copper, and variegated leaf. It is used for indoor decorative finishes when genuine gold is not required.
Copper-alloy metal leaf tarnishes and must be sealed except aluminum; aluminum may darken slightly without a sealer. Gloves help prevent fingerprints and residue under sealer.