How does inlaid linoleum keep its pattern through the material's thickness?

Inlaid linoleum maintains its pattern throughout the material's thickness because the design is constructed from the base up rather than being applied to the surface.1

Unlike printed linoleum, which features a surface-level design, inlaid patterns are created by cutting shapes from differently colored sheets of linoleum and attaching them directly to the backing material. Alternatively, decorative effects can be achieved by applying granulated, colored mixtures through stencils onto a backing and then pressing these materials into a solid sheet. Because these colored components are pressed into the backing to form the full depth of the wear layer, the pattern remains consistent even as the material wears down over time.21