Pattern books of tapa made in the colonial period were very popular. Patterned tapa is still the choice for commercial sale. Pattern, whether traditional or contemporary, adds meaning to barkcloth beyond decoration. Tapa patterns are created by staining, painting, stamping and stenciling. In New Guinea, the designs are hand painted.
Traditional colors come from local clays, native plant dyes and charcoal.
Sites with text information on tapa are short on photos. Detailed descriptions of the making of a Wola bark-cloth hat from a single round of bark, pp. 131-150, overview of barkcloth's significance in Oceania, colonial illustrations and color plates. Description of making large sheets on page 134. Link to the article for explanation of other numbered areas.