Technical Gelatin 4oz

This is a technical grade of gelatin made in the U.S. It is a fine mesh granular gelatin that is easy to dissolve in water. The technical grade means that it is the lightest in color and most translucsent grade available. This makes it ideal for use in gilding. Gelatin is preferred by many professional gilders over hide glue, because it can take a super burnish easier than hide glue when mixed with gilder's clay or gesso.

Gelatin glue is graded and sold by its Bloom Value. Bloom value is a measurement of 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 10� 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 its viscosity at this same 6 and 2/3% concentration. A standard viscosity range is associated with each bloom level.

Preparation Directions
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.

Specifications
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.

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

Ingredients
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 60� C (140� F).

How to Use
Work dry pigments with water into a heavy paste using a palette knife. Then grind the pigment paste into the warm solution of glue. 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 for thin underpainting. To harden and preserve the paint film, spray the dried painting with a 10% solution of water and alum.