Calligraphy Question

[swords_and_pens]

I have a question for the calligraphers and illuminators out there

Comments

[pixel39]

There is chrysography, which is writing with gold. There are several ways to accomplish this, either writing with ink made with shell gold (gold dust, basically) or writing with a gilding size and then gilding the written words. The method used will give you different results--shell gold is a duller shine, a bit more sparkly, while raised gilding is really smooth and shiny, flat gilding is in between the two

[eithni]

Heh. What she said. :)

[swords_and_pens]

Thanks, this is very helpful!

[calcinations]

To judge from my copy of "Scribes and Illuminators" by Christopher Hamel, they didn't. Most used was black ink, then red, and occaisionally some green or blue.
You could most easily go with pixel39's explanation and make it an illustration rather than the text itself.

[swords_and_pens]

I may have to go in that direction. Thanks.