The bark is then spread across a large, smooth branch and hammered with a thick piece of wood or an elephant's tusk held in a cloven branch. Often these hammers are engraved with patterns, which add more texture to the barkcloth. As it is beaten, the bark expands. After the bark dries, it is dampened and hammered once more. It takes about two hours of hammering to adequately soften a piece of bark.
Women prepare the dyes and paints from a variety of roots, fruits and leaves.
Women paint the barkcloths with their fingers and twigs. Sometimes they fold the barkcloth into segments and work on each segment separately. Completed barkcloths are worn for a variety of ceremonies.