Rublev Colours Technical Gelatin - 4 oz

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.

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.

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 .