Hello... I hope you can help me with this dilemma! I commissioned a signmaker to remake a sign for me that has 23K goldleaf on it. The original sign with the goldleaf glowed under the lights. However, on this new sign the goldleaf does not glow under the lights--in fact it turns a dull burnished gold with dull grey black undertones. I did notice that the gold trim is in fact painted over black, but I cannot tell with the rest of the sign other than it is dull under lights. He tells me that goldleaf is unpredictable under lights. I say he put it over black paint. The background of the sign is all ivory with colored lettering and spots of this goldleaf in the decorative design. My question is what does goldleaf look like over black paint, and does black paint affect the look of goldleaf under lights? Many, many thanks for your input. Valerie

Gold leaf over black goes grey-ish and dull. Gold leaf is most often put over red or yellow colors, as that enriches the color and doesn't kill it. Sounds to me like he did put it over black, which shades right through gold leaf and makes it dark and does not reflect light as it should.