This could easily entail a twelve stone printing process being needed, each carefully created to ensure the success. These sets are interesting because they sit astride a watershed in lithography. Gallaher used offset printing in the production of many of their cards using up to eight colours. Also called recess printing, which gives the game away really. The initial process is similar to letterpress but the plate is etched so the design sinks into the block, rather than standing proud.
Ink is applied to the block and then wiped off leaving ink set within the etched part.
Once a slightly dampened surface is presented to the block it absorbs the ink within it. The deeper the original colour the deeper the recess in the plate which enables it to hold more ink making the finished product a darker colour. The printing process meant the individual dots of colour ran into each other slightly producing a softer finish. This also has a final varnish finish put on it. Photographic Ogdens was to use this process heavily in the production of their guinea gold series in the early ear of cigarette cards.