Our technical grade of gelatin is an animal collagen glue made in the U.S. It is a fine mesh granular gelatin that is easy to dissolve in water. The technical grade means it is the lightest in color and most translucent grade available, making it ideal for use in gilding. Many professional gilders prefer gelatin over hide glue because it can take a super burnish easier than hide glue when mixed with the gilder's clay or gesso.

Gelatin glue is graded and sold by its Bloom Value. Bloom value measures the strength of a gel formed by a 6 and 2/3% solution of the glue that has been kept in a constant temperature bath at 10º C for 18 hours. A device called a Texture Analyzer is then used to measure the weight in grams required to depress a standard plunger 4 millimeters into the gel. If this procedure requires 200 grams, then the glue is a 200-bloom value glue. Glue is also tested for viscosity at this same 6 and 2/3% concentration. A standard viscosity range is associated with each bloom level.

Low Bloom or gel strength animal collagen glue sets slower than higher gel strength glues, making it suitable for use in art as a painting medium and gilding adhesive.

First, soak in water for 30 minutes and then gently heat in a water bath until completely dissolved. Apply with a brush while warm or with a spatula when allowed to cool to room temperature (it will gel when cool). For gilding, use as an adhesive for metal leaf, such as gold leaf. Mix with gilder's clay or whiting to make a base for gilding. Add calcium carbonate (calcite, chalk, or marble dust) for chalk grounds or calcium sulfate (gypsum) for gesso grounds. Always make the minimum concentration required; as a guide, a set gel should be somewhere between hard set and liquid -- about the consistency of jelly. For gilding size, use 40 grams for every liter (quart) of water.

Bloom: 200 grams
The bloom value refers to the strength of a gel formed by a 6 and 2/3% solution of the glue kept at a constant temperature. The higher the number, the greater the strength of the glue.

Viscosity: 140 - 160 millipascal seconds
Millipascal seconds is the measurement of viscosity, which is measured by the flow velocity of the glue solution through a funnel.

Hide glue and gelatin provide a low-cost, easily formulated paint called distemper. Diluted with water, it is good for color sketching and painting. Distemper paintings have lasted for centuries without change.

1 part Technical Gelatin (dry)
10 parts water

Soak the glue in water for 30 minutes to one hour.

Warm this swollen glue by placing the container in another vessel filled with hot tap water. This will cause the glue to completely dissolve. Never heat collagen glue over 60º C (140º F).

Prepare only enough that you can use it within a few days to one week. Store unused gelatin in a covered glass or plastic container in the refrigerator.

Work dry pigments with water into a heavy paste using a palette knife. Then, grind the pigment paste into a warm glue solution. Keep the paints warm enough to remain in solution while painting with them, and use warm water to dilute them. Use a bristle brush for painting, applying the paint in thin layers to glue-sized paper, cardboard, wood panel, or canvas. This method is excellent for alla prima painting and thin underpainting. To harden and preserve the paint film, spray the dried painting with a 10% solution of water and .