Each of the six samples boards, except for the last one, is divided into three vertical strips representing consecutive stages in the maki-e process.

Sample board 1
1. The design is transferred using thin paper, lacquer and silver powder.
2. Lacquer is applied around the branches of the pine tree, then sprinkled with gold powder.
3. The areas sprinkled with gold powder are consolidated with lacquer.

Sample board 2
4. Lacquer is applied over the whole surface.
5. The surface is polished with charcoal to reveal the gold powder.
6. It is further polished with oil mixed with ground whetstone. It is then sealed with lacquer and gloss polished using oil mixed with ground deerhorn. The process of sealing and gloss polishing is repeated.

Sample board 3
7. The hillock is raised with ground charcoal sprinkled onto lacquer.
8. Step 7 is repeated to build up a gently sloping surface.
9. The contours of the hillock are modelled by the repeated application of black lacquer followed by polishing.

Sample board 4
10. The entire hillock is polished with fine charcoal. A gold insert is applied at the top of the rocky outcrop visible in the third strip (step 12).
11. Lacquer is applied to the upper part of the hillock and gold flakes are individually positioned.
12. Lacquer is applied to the entire hillock and sprinkled with gold powder.

Sample board 5
13. The hillock is consolidated with lacquer. The pine tree is sprinkled with gold powder using lacquer as as adhesive.
14. The hillock is polished to reveal the gold flakes and powder. The pine tree is decorated with gold flakes and gold powder, with gold-silver alloy for the cones and tips.
15. Pine needles are individually drawn using stiff lacquer and sprinkled with gold powder.

Sample board 6
16. The pine needles are consolidated with lacquer and polished. The whole surface is sealed with lacquer and polished with oil mixed with ground deerhorn.