Tooling describes a process by which heated metal (in the shape of letters, decorative items or straight lines) is applied to the leather in order to leave an imprint.

Blind tooling leaves only an imprint, while gold tooling results in a gold-colored imprint.

The type and amount of tooling done is dictated both by the historical period of the book and by simple aethetics.

Gold tooling.

Blind tooling (no gold leaf is used).

Type is hand-set, letter by letter.

Many types of instruments are used for decorative tooling.

Gold leaf used for tooling.