I used Rustoleum paint for the scrolls and just a tiny drop of oil on the grouse, other than that it's lighting and the angle you look at it as it was explained by Katherine Plummer and others because I wondered the same thing.Outstanding! Do you put paint or something in the dots or lines? I've been trying it but mine looks pale, low contrast, even like a photo negative. Don't know what I'm doing wrong but I know yours looks like you've got it right. Very talented.