What is how is gold leaf made?

Gold leaf is made by hammering gold into extremely thin sheets, typically around 0.1 microns thick. The process begins with a solid piece of gold being rolled out into a thin strip. This strip is then cut into small squares or rectangles and placed between layers of thin, flexible paper.

The gold and paper sandwich is then passed through a specialized machine, called a leafing machine, which presses and hammers the metal until it is thin enough to be considered gold leaf. This process is repeated several times until the desired thickness is achieved.

Once the gold has been hammered into thin sheets, it is carefully removed from the paper and cut into smaller pieces for sale. Gold leaf is commonly used in various applications, including gilding, crafting, and decoration.