The line to be gilded is clearly marked with a sharp folder, picked out with glair, and the gold, which is taken up on the roll, is printed in.

The gold leaf is cut on the cushion into narrow strips about 1 cm wide, and the warm (each time wiped clean) and slightly greased roll is lightly passed over it so that the strip : of gold adheres to the circumference of the roll, and then rolled off with a firm and even pressure on to the place intended.
This is now gone over with a wool rag (or gold rag), and only the printed line is left; the surplus gold remains in the rag.

Near the finishing stove should stand as also for blind tooling a shallow saucer containing water and also a common brush similar to those sold with bottles of gum. A drop of water is thrown from this brush on to the hot tool in order to test its heat. Cloth is printed with fairly hot tools; they should hiss a little when tested. Goat skin requires a heat almost sufficient to produce hissing, whilst hissing would indicate too hot a tool for use on morocco, and all sheep skins will bear only moderate heat. If the roll was too hot, the gold would have no brilliance, and if too cold, would appear broken. Calf requires the same heat as cloth, but quick working, especially on first applying the tool. The roll has a long handle which re1'ts against the shoulder whilst held in the right hand. When getting into position for an impression the thumb nail of the left hand is used as a guide and support.

A line around a cover is marked out correctly with dividers and folder, picked out with size, and printed in gold in the same way. Tile rolls have a notch, which is for starting and ending at the corners; these must always be joined exactly. Rolls for two or more lines must print the corners perfectly diagonal, and for this purpose such rolls are cut so as to print a true diagonal comer; one corner being made for the beginning and the other for the end.

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