Vellum, a material made from prepared animal skin, has been used for writing and painting since ancient times. Its thickness can vary, but it's often compared to modern paper for ease of understanding. So, how thick is vellum paper?
Vellum thickness is typically measured in mills, a unit of measurement equal to one thousandth of an inch. The most common types of vellum fall into two categories: parchment and vellum proper.
Parchment
Parchment is a type of vellum made from sheepskin or goatskin. It's known for its durability and smooth surface.
Thickness can vary, but it usually ranges from 10 to 20 mills. This is equivalent to approximately 0.01 to 0.02 inches or 0.25 to 0.51 millimeters. For reference, a typical sheet of printer paper is about 20 mills thick.
Sheepskin Parchment
Sheepskin parchment is the thicker of the two, usually ranging from 18 to 20 mills. It's often used for important documents and artwork due to its durability and ability to take fine detail.
Examples of sheepskin parchment include the Magna Carta and the Bayeux Tapestry. The thickness of these historic documents can give you an idea of the thickness of sheepskin parchment.
Goatskin Parchment
Goatskin parchment is thinner, typically ranging from 10 to 15 mills. It's more flexible and easier to work with than sheepskin parchment, making it a popular choice for artists and calligraphers.
Examples of goatskin parchment include many medieval manuscripts and early printed books. The thickness of these artifacts can provide a sense of the thickness of goatskin parchment.
Vellum Proper
Vellum proper is made from calfskin or other fine-grained animal skins. It's thinner and smoother than parchment, with a surface that's often compared to modern paper.
Vellum proper typically ranges from 6 to 10 mills in thickness. This is equivalent to approximately 0.006 to 0.01 inches or 0.15 to 0.25 millimeters. It's often used for high-quality printing and art paper.
Calfskin Vellum
Calfskin vellum is the most common type of vellum proper. It's made from the skin of a young calf and is known for its smooth, fine-grained surface.
Calfskin vellum is typically around 8 mills thick. It's often used for high-quality printing and art paper, as well as for bookbinding and conservation purposes.
Other Types of Vellum Proper
Other types of vellum proper can be made from the skins of young animals, such as lambs or kids. These are less common but can be used for similar purposes as calfskin vellum.
The thickness of these types of vellum proper can vary, but they typically fall within the same range as calfskin vellum, from 6 to 10 mills.
In the world of art and conservation, the thickness of vellum is just one of many factors that determine its suitability for a given purpose. Understanding the range of thicknesses and their uses can help you make informed decisions about which type of vellum to use for your project.