finishing question

[Big Bear Johnson]

on a bunch of the tandy books and stuff they have projects that have a finish I can't seem to get.
The leather looks almost natural, like there has been no dye applied except for the background that is dyed black. This part I can do.
There is however a lot of antiquing that is filling the low spots and detail in the carving. This is the part I can't get.
All the antiques I've used, stain the leather as well as adding the antiquing.
Painting resist on there is not the answer and I doubt that they are hand painting all the fine detail.

Is there some kind of antique that will fill the low areas nice and dark but that will rub off the highlights?

posted is an example. not the best example but it's close.

[cowboy316]

BIgbear
  hey there pard what they are doing is using a small paint brush and what ever dark dye you want and actually painting in the back grounding and then just using a clear finish coat like tan coat or something like that to get the gloss finish
hope this helps pard
     Cowboy316

[Skeeter Lewis]

Hi BB

Have a look at Keith Valley Saddlery. He's got a short video on this.