The guidebook that has taught thousands has been updated with new materials, techniques and a full-color gallery of gold leaf signs. The buyer's guide is recent as well. The fourth edition still details the art of gilding with step-by-step instructions and more than 170 illustrations, covering both the basics of handling gold leaf as well as advanced techniques and applications. It explains the basic procedures for creating gold leaf window signs — from layout, pounce patterns and gilding, to backing up, finishing and varnishing. Antique effects, common gilding problems, their causes, prevention and solutions are also included.