Vellum is made by cleaning, stretching and scraping a piece of mammal hide. The surface is then abraded by running a pumice stone over it. Chalk is added so that ink can be written on it easily.
Vellum was typically made from the hide of a calf, goat or sheep, though the best is said to have come from unborn animal hide. Jewish cultures used kosher animal hide, the deer being the most popular.
Vellum is used in a number of different important manuscripts, such as the more important medieval books and scripts, the Torah and more than 100 copies of the Gutenberg bible. Before canvas was invented, paintings were often done on vellum as well.
Vellum as it was made centuries ago is still used today. Jewish scrolls, the British Acts of Parliament and some luxury book bindings are just a few ways vellum is still being used.
Paper vellum is another name given to imitation vellum. This is made from a type of plastic that mimics the opaque look of vellum as well as its texture.