His process combined mechanical tracing with hand-finished details in charcoal and chalk. After using the physionotrace to capture the life-sized silhouette, he used a pantograph to reduce the image to a small copper plate. He then engraved the plate to create multiple prints. His work is distinctive for its stark profile view and the use of pink or blue tinted paper. While contemporaries like Charles Willson Peale or Gilbert Stuart used oil on canvas, Saint-Mémin focused on sharp lines and subtle shading.

Modern collectors value these prints for their graphic quality and historical accuracy. The circular format and uniform style create a cohesive look when displayed together. These portraits provide a direct visual record of the federal era, capturing scientists like William Dandridge Peck alongside political figures. The prints offer a sophisticated alternative to traditional oil paintings. They fit well in contemporary interiors that favour minimalist lines and monochromatic colour schemes.