Essential Tools for Professional Gilding and Signwriting

Using Low Tack Tape and One Shot Enamels with Gold Leaf

For centuries, gold leaf has been used to elevate lettering, signage, monuments and decorative surfaces. From traditional shopfronts and monumental inscriptions to contemporary restoration and bespoke branding, professional results rely not only on the quality of goldleaf itself, but also on the supporting materials used throughout the process.

At Wrights of Lymm, we specialise in supplying premium gold leaf and gilding materials trusted by professionals across signwriting, restoration, conservation and monumental work. Two essential products that consistently support high-quality results are low tack signwriters’ tape and One Shot gloss signwriting enamels. While often overlooked, these materials play a vital role in achieving precision, durability and visual impact when working with gold leaf, whether 24 carat or 23.5 carat.

This guide explores how these products are used, why they matter, and how they integrate seamlessly into professional gilding workflows.

The Role of Precision in Gold Leaf and Gilding Work

Gold leaf, whether 24 carat or 23.5 carat, is an exceptionally delicate material. A single sheet can be thinner than a human hair, making accuracy and surface preparation essential. Any bleed, movement or surface damage can compromise the final appearance, particularly in high-visibility applications such as shopfront lettering, memorial inscriptions or heritage restoration.

This is where professional-grade tools come into their own. Low tack tapes allow for crisp edges and controlled layouts, while specialist enamels provide long-lasting colour contrast that enhances the brilliance of goldleaf. Together, these materials help signwriters and gilders achieve clean, professional finishes that stand the test of time.

Low Tack Signwriters’ Tape: Control Without Compromise

What Is Low Tack Tape?

Low tack signwriters’ tape is designed specifically for delicate surfaces and specialist decorative work. Unlike standard masking tape, it offers reliable adhesion without leaving residue or lifting paint, varnish or gold leaf beneath.

For gilders working with gold leaf, this balance is critical. Excessively strong adhesives can pull away size, disturb leaf or damage carefully prepared surfaces. Low tack tape provides just enough grip to guide application while preserving the integrity of the work.

Key Uses of Low Tack Tape in Gilding

1. Layout and Lettering Guides

Before goldleaf is applied, accurate spacing and alignment are essential. Low tack tape is widely used to:

• Mark baselines and cap heights for lettering

• Define borders around panels, windows or stonework

• Create temporary guides without marking the substrate

This is especially valuable in monumental and restoration projects, where surfaces may be historic, porous or irreplaceable.

2. Protecting Surrounding Areas

During gilding, size application and leaf laying must be controlled. Low tack tape helps protect:

• Painted backgrounds

• Stone or timber surfaces

• Adjacent lettering or ornamentation

Because it removes cleanly, it ensures no damage occurs to surrounding work, even when using high-value 24 carat gold leaf.

3. Multi-Stage Gilding and Restoration Work

In restoration settings, gilding often happens in stages. Low tack tape allows areas to be isolated and revisited without disrupting completed sections. This controlled approach is vital when restoring historic signage, monuments or architectural details where accuracy is paramount.

One Shot Gloss Signwriting Enamels: The Industry Standard

Why One Shot Enamels Are Trusted Worldwide

One Shot gloss signwriting enamels have earned their reputation as an industry benchmark. Known for their exceptional flow, opacity and durability, they are widely used by professional signwriters and gilders across traditional and modern applications.

When combined with gold leaf, these enamels provide striking contrast, enhancing the brilliance of gilded lettering while offering long-term performance outdoors and indoors.

How One Shot Enamels Support Gold Leaf Applications

1. Backgrounds That Enhance Goldleaf

Gold leaf performs best when paired with rich, smooth backgrounds. One Shot enamels are commonly used to:

• Paint signboards prior to gilding

• Create panels for reverse glass gilding

• Refresh backgrounds during restoration work

Their deep gloss finish reflects light beautifully, making both 23.5 carat and 24 carat gold leaf appear brighter and more dimensional.

2. Outlining and Shadowing Gilded Lettering

Once goldleaf has been laid and burnished, One Shot enamels are frequently used for:

• Outlines around gilded letters

• Drop shadows and embellishments

• Secondary lettering to complement gold

This technique is widely seen in traditional shopfronts and monumental inscriptions, where contrast and legibility are essential.

3. Durability for Exterior and Monumental Use

In monumental and outdoor applications, longevity is crucial. One Shot enamels offer excellent resistance to weathering, making them ideal for:

• Memorial plaques

• Stone and metal signage

• Historic restoration projects

When paired with genuine gold leaf, the result is a finish that can last for decades with minimal maintenance.

Integrating These Tools into Professional Gilding Workflows

Traditional Shopfront Gilding

For classic shopfronts, the combination of low tack tape, One Shot enamels and gold leaf allows for:

• Perfectly aligned lettering

• Clean edges on glass or painted panels

• Rich visual contrast that attracts attention

This approach remains a hallmark of premium signwriting and branding.

Monumental and Memorial Gilding

In monumental work, accuracy and respect for materials are paramount. Low tack tape protects stone and carved lettering, while One Shot enamels can be used for backgrounds or secondary inscriptions. Finished with 23.5 carat or 24 carat goldleaf, the result is dignified, legible and enduring.

Restoration and Conservation Projects

Restoration demands materials that behave predictably and safely. Low tack tape minimises risk to historic surfaces, while One Shot enamels offer colour consistency when matching existing work. Combined with traditional gilding techniques, they help preserve heritage signage and architectural details authentically.

Why Material Choice Matters in Gold Leaf Work

Gold leaf is an investment in quality, and supporting materials should meet the same standard. Inferior tapes can leave residue or damage surfaces, while poor-quality paints may fade, crack or undermine the brilliance of goldleaf over time.

By using professional-grade products alongside genuine gold leaf supplied by Wrights of Lymm, craftsmen can be confident in both appearance and performance.

Wrights of Lymm: Supporting Craftsmen at Every Stage

As a trusted gold leaf supplier, Wrights of Lymm understands that exceptional gilding relies on more than gold alone. From 24 carat and 23.5 carat goldleaf to specialist tools, tapes and enamels, we support signwriters, restorers and monumental masons with materials proven in the field.

Whether you are undertaking a large-scale restoration, a bespoke shopfront, or detailed monumental work, the right combination of gold leaf, low tack tape and One Shot enamels ensures precision, durability and timeless beauty.

Conclusion

Low tack signwriters’ tape and One Shot gloss signwriting enamels may seem like supporting players, but in professional gilding they are indispensable. Used correctly, they protect surfaces, enhance goldleaf and allow craftsmen to achieve the crisp lines and lasting finishes that define high-quality work.

When paired with genuine gold leaf from Wrights of Lymm, these materials help uphold the traditions of gilding while meeting the demands of modern signwriting, restoration and monumental applications.