véllum

Véllum is a term used in manuscript studies and craft circles to denote a thin, translucent form of parchment or skin suitable for writing and illumination. While commonly equated with vellum, véllum distinguishes itself by a higher translucency and a refined surface, enabling fine line work and more subtle color layering.

The word derives from velum, Latin for sail or veil, with a modern accent to reflect its usage in contemporary craft lexicons.

Véllum is prepared from animal skins, typically calf or kid, but processed to achieve lower thickness than standard vellum. The hides are cleaned, dehaired, stretched, and dried under tension, yielding a surface that accepts ink with minimal feathering. It is usually finished with a smooth calendering or light polishing.

Historically, the term appears in medieval and early modern inventories and later in craft catalogs describing refinement grades for manuscript production. In contemporary practice, véllum is produced by specialized binders and papermakers; it is more expensive and less common than ordinary parchment.

Its typical applications include writing, illumination, and binding; it is also used for protective endpapers or as a translucent overlay or tracing support in design workflows due to its translucency.

See also: vellum, parchment.