vellum
Medieval scribe's surface
Vellum is a fine parchment made from calfskin, used historically for writing, bookbinding, and important documents.
The material is smooth, durable, and takes ink well, making it prized for manuscripts and legal records before paper became widespread.
Modern vellum often refers to high-quality paper that imitates the look and feel of the original material: The diploma was printed on vellum.
Treated hide for manuscripts
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scrollWound document of parchment
- folioSingle-fold page format
- quartoFour-leaf printing format
illuminated · scriptorium · palimpsest · scribe · medieval · charter · document · incunabula
Legally or morally required
- leatherTanned animal skin
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
sewing · endpapers · stitching · conservation · restoration · cover · tooling · embossing
Without roughness or difficulty
- suppleFlexing without damage
- creamySmooth and rich
- softYielding to touch
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
fine-grained · lustrous · buttery · even · polished · calendered · delicate · flexible
Skill of forming letters
- scriptWritten words for performance
- inkWriting fluid
- quillFeather used for writing
- nibPen's writing tip
lettering · flourish · cursive · illumination · gilding · engrossing · ornamentation · brushwork
Academic completion document
- certificateFormal written attestation
- lampshadeBulb-concealing light diffuser
- stationeryCorrespondence writing materials
- invitationsRequests to attend
letterhead · resume · printing · paper · imitation · synthetic · faux · luxury
parchment
Treated hide for manuscripts
quarto · illuminated · scriptorium · palimpsest · scribe · medieval · charter · document · incunabula · manuscript
binding
Legally or morally required
gathering · sewing · endpapers · stitching · conservation · restoration · cover · tooling · embossing · gilt
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
translucent · fine-grained · lustrous · buttery · even · polished · calendered · delicate · flexible · durable
penmanship
Skill of forming letters
nib · lettering · flourish · cursive · illumination · gilding · engrossing · ornamentation · brushwork · copperplate
diploma
Academic completion document
- certificateFormal written attestation
- lampshadeBulb-concealing light diffuser
- stationeryCorrespondence writing materials
invitations · letterhead · resume · printing · paper · imitation · synthetic · faux · luxury · archival
- artifactspottery shards, knives, masks, pottery, antiquity
- book partspage, pages, cover, index, chapter
- paper itemsconfetti, ticker tape, shreds, snippets, clippings
- paper typesbond, cardstock, copy paper, newsprint, parchment
- stationerypen, pencil, paper, notebook, envelope
- ancient artsculpture, sculptures, pottery, mosaics, murals
vellumdigital media
Electronically stored information
newsprint · paper · recycled paper · screen · papyrus
vellumnewsprint
Low-grade printing paper
tissue paper · scrap paper · toilet paper · ephemera · copy paper