Metallic particles that had separated from the original glue binder and were lying loosely on the paper's surface were viewed under 40x magnification and collected by gently turning dry cotton swabs on the sample area. The swabs were then soaked in methanol, releasing the particles.

After the methanol evaporated, the particles were transferred to carbon-coated copper grids for TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). At least 10 particles were collected from each sample area (seven areas in all from three different woodblock prints, including the "gold-color" area shown below from a Meiji-period recut of a Gakutei surimono, circa 1896).

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