Zinnober: German word for cinnabar, a pigment that is a by-product of the gold mining process. zinnober.biz is a sister site to sinopia.com dedicated to making the use of gold easy for anyone to understand. Gold leaf has been used for thousands of years to adorn many different types of surfaces, yet very few people are actually aware of how gold surfaces are created and of the materials involved. Many people believe that a gold paint is used; in fact, thin sheets of gold are adhered to the surface. There are two types of gilding: oil gilding and water gilding. Which of these is appropriate to use depends on the project. For laying on exterior or high-traffic surfaces, oil gilding is the preferable method. It is also the easier method, so it is the best one for beginners to start with. Water gilding is a more involved process but yields a more dramatic result. In water gilding, thin layers of bole clay are brushed onto a gesso-coated surface. This creates a smooth, soft surface that allows for burnishing after the gold leaf has been adhered. Using this technique, master gilders can create beautiful, mirror-like reflective surfaces. Feel free to explore the various sections of our site, which will explain the tools, methods and terminology involved in the gold leaf laying process.