To obtain such elaborate shading and overlays, it is necessary to work by hand on the decorations, to obtain a 'separation' of each colour, which is then repeated as they say in the jargon, 'in report' to replicate the original designs in print with precision and without defects.

Skilful hands of designers in the Como and Varese district work for days - and sometimes months - on a design before it is ready to be 'recombined' on the various layers.