I love these cookies!!  I am puzzled how they are shaded and paninted? How they do all the little details?  any thought?

http://www.veramadeira.com/#!untitled/zoom/cva2/imageiy1

I'd say they are definitely hand painted with a brush. And that is a sugar paste from a mold. The black maybe an edible marker.

Wow what an aritist!! Those are beautiful some kind of amazing. I thought it was a springerlie thingy but there are so many like that. Maybe they are molds but wow not all of them.

Whoa those chicks are the bombshabomb!!

Portuguese anyone?

They are using an airbrush (to perfection) in one photo under Tema Natal within the Bolachadas Decorados. And I saw a paintbrush in use.

So you think the designs are fondant and not piped royla icing? 
 

No I don't think it's royal. However these artist bakers would not leave out any medium that works to their advantage.