Leather Glossary LEATHER GLOSSARY Aniline: A process of colouring the hide in a drum that penetrates the leathers throughout using transparent aniline dyes. Bi Cast: Application of polyurethane surface coating on a split or top grain leather. Base Coat: Colour that is applied to the crust colour to achieve the final colour of the protected aniline. Buffed or Polished: Top grain leather that has been mechanically sanded to remove surface imperfections. Chromium Tanning: Upholstery leather which has been tanned with chromium salts. This method makes the hide flexible and supple. Crocking: The rubbing off of surface substances or colour onto another material. Commonly referred to as dye transfer. Crust: The raw hide that has been tanned and dyed, but has not yet been completely finished. Colour Fastness: Colour Fastness to light is a measure of how permanent a colour is on leather after exposure to Corrected Grain: Outside skin is processed and sandpapered to minimize flaws and then pigmented and embossed. Distressed: Process used to create an effect resembling a worn look or an aged appearance. Techniques used to create this effect include tumbling the hides with abrasive items in order to scratch the leather’s surface. Drum Dyed: A dyeing process in which leather is immersed in dyes and tumbled in a rotating drum allowing maximum penetration. Embossing: A process that alters the natural grain of the leather by using etching, engraving or electrotyped plates to create a very uniform grain pattern. Fat Liquoring: Process of replacing oils that have been depleted from the hide during the tanning process. Fat Wrinkle: Natural wrinkles in the leather’s grain that are unique to each hide. Normally visible only in the full grain leathers. Common around the neck and shoulder areas of the hide. Finishing: Any post-tanning treatment such as dyeing, rolling, spraying, antiquing, waxing, buffing, embossing, glazing. Full Grain: Leather in which the hair has only been removed while the grain remains in it’s original state. Glazed Finish: The leather surface is polished to high luster. Gloss Finish: Higher shine/sheen level finish usually with the enhanced texture added. Grain: Pattern characterized by the pores that are unique to the animal. They are visible on the outer surface of a hide after the hair has been removed. Hand: A term used to describe the softness or feel of leather when touched with your hand. Hides: Skins from cattle for leather furniture. Leather: All hides and skins that are tanned. Liming: The chemical process of removing the hair from the raw hide. Matte Finish: Low gloss finish usually with enhanced texture added. Milling/Tumbling: A process in which hides are tumbled in rotating drum to soften the hand or enhance the grain. Naked Leather: Tanned, aniline dyed leather that has no protective top coat. Commonly referred to as pure aniline. Natural Grain: Leather which the grain has not been altered in any way. The natural appearance of the grain is predominant showing visibly healed scares, fat wrinkles, insect bites, etc. Nubuck: Top grain, aniline dyed leather that has been buffed to create a “suede like” nap effect. Patina: A luster that develops with time and use. Pigmented: Leather surface that is coated with colour pigments. Pull-up: When leather is pulled, the oils or the waxes in the leather cause the colour to dissipate and become lighter. Pure Aniline: A leather that is drum dyed but has little or no protected top coating to prevent it from cracking, staining or crocking. Sauvage: A two toned effect utilizing two different colours of dye which adds depth and character to the leather. Semi Aniline: Leather that has been aniline dyed throughout then protected by a clear or pigmented finish coating thus creating a more consistent colour than pure aniline leathers. Natural markings may be visible with some semi-aniline leathers. Split: The middle or bottom layer of the hide. Split leathers are used in areas that are not under any stress, as backs or sides of sofa. Embossed to create a very uniform grain pattern. Split Grain: The underneath layer of a hide which has been “split” off when the top grain is separated. If finished, the split is heavily embossed and surface treated. Suede: Leather produced from the underneath layer/lower split of a hide processing a velvet-like nap effect. Suede does not have same durable characteristics as a top grain leathers. Tanning: The process of turning raw hides into leather. Top Grain: Top part of the skin or hide. The grain may be either full grain or embossed grain. The top grain of the hide is stronger and more flexible. Wet Blue: Refers to the “blue” colour and appearance created by the chromium tanning process.