In this example of Fumed Eucalyptus, we see a very heavily figured piece.

Fuming is a process through which veneers and lumber are set in a chamber that regulates temperature, air flow and humidity.  A catalyst – in this case a small amount of ammonia is placed in the chamber as well.  The ammonia reacts with the natural tannin in the wood, resulting over time in the darker color we see in this example.  The reaction is neutralized with another additive to stop the process.  Most species of wood can be fumed, and the process is not new, it’s only been better developed.

The fuming process has no influence over how much or how little figure we see, nor does it influence what kind of figure we see in the wood.