As to the factors by which multicolor printing was made possible, it is pointed out that "Kento" (guide marks) were introduced to mark the points for overprinting, and that strong, high-quality Japanese papers that withstood multiple-color printing became available.
多色刷りが可能になった背景には、重ね刷りの際の目印となるよう「見当」が工夫されたこと、複数回の刷りに耐えられる丈夫で高品質な和紙が普及したことが挙げられる。