They are clearly ranked: under the most prestigious four families (called 'inner court painters') there are about 15 families less prestigious called 'outer court painters' and then the 'Machi Kano painters' who catered to the demands of townspeople instead of the Imperial Court or temples and shrines; and consequently their influence spread throughout the nation.
「奥絵師」と呼ばれる、もっとも格式の高い4家を筆頭に、それに次いで格式の高い「表絵師」が約15家あり、その下には公儀や寺社の画事ではなく、一般町人の需要に応える「町狩野」が位置するというように、明確に格付けがされ、その影響力は日本全国に及んでいた。