Batik Tie & Dye Technique and process

The Batik art designs have found their way into the lives of many. Read on to know more about this extremely popular form of art.

Instant Tie and Paint Process:


The word batik (pronounced Bateek) means "wax written" and this is basically what batik is. It is a way of decorating cloth by covering part of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing the cloth. The waxed area keeps its original color and when the wax is removed the contrast between the dyed and un-dyed areas makes the pattern. A technique of hand-dyeing fabrics by using wax as a dye repellent to cover parts of a design, dyeing the uncovered fabric with a color or colors, and dissolving the wax in boiling water.


Initially Batik Tie & Dye was popular only as a hobby but gained impetus only in recent years, It has achieved a status as an independent profession. A lot of people have turned it into a lucrative business. A number of colleges and educational institutes are also offering courses on this.

Artists are using these techniques to translate their own ideas not only into patterns and designs for useful materials, but also as an art form to produce two-dimensional decorative for walls and paintings. It is also a craft that is well within the capabilities of the non-specialist.

Batik is a fascinating craft , though people may hesitate to try because of the tedious and time consuming process involved. Big, bold designs in bright colors are most striking.

Bold and loud colors are known to be used for Batik Tie & Dye processes. The age-old form of Tie and Dye does not allow the application of many colors at a stretch. Fabric needs to be tied and colored, washed, untied and dipped in color again for more than two colors. The Instant Tie and Paint process gives you the freedom to tie the fabric, pick up the brush and paint the various sections as per your desire. Once the fixer is applied, it needs to be left overnight and washed the next day. Untie the fabric to see the magic unfold!

Old Batik Techniques and process:

Old Batik Techniques and process:

Batik constitutes the process wherein a line or a patch is drawn with wax on cloth. This is done so that the surface is protected from the color. When it is dipped in the dye, the color does not penetrate the area that has been waxed. The wax resists the color therefore the surface is divided into dyed and un-dyed areas. This is what makes the pattern. Similarly in Tie and Dye process, the pattern is achieved, as the dye does not penetrate the tied areas of the cloth. Here, you substitute the wax with a string to tie the cloth. Sometimes tools like the tjanting (container with a long slender spout) or even a simple brush can be used to apply the wax. The colors or dyes used have to be prepared only in containers made of enamel, steel or plastic. (The properties of the material of the container can affect the dye).

After waxing, the material is dipped in a dye bath. The first color is the lightest tone to be used. The old process of Batik does not allow the artist to apply many colors in one go. However, the modern techniques have advanced and have made it easy for the artist, wherein one can use the brush to apply many colors in one go!
Next, the cloth is again covered with wax on areas that have to retain the first color. This process continues till the darkest shade is achieved. Always maintain the color scale as the old Batik process involves many steps to obtain a particular shade.
After the last dyeing, the material is dried and placed between two layers of absorbent papers. The wax needs to be ironed out of the material into the paper. This would reveal the pattern or picture that has been permanently dyed into the cloth.

In Batik, whether you employ the old or even the new process, the end result is always an exciting moment and uniquely original. The characteristic of the Batik process is the cracks in the design due to the wax. The wax being brittle, cracks and the dye penetrates the waxed area. This results in the beautiful spider web design wherever the wax has been applied. The Batik fabric being used should generally be a pure form of fabric, like pure cotton or pure silk. Any blend in the material can interfere with the way the colors look after washing.

LEARNING THE CULTURE OF HAND-MADE BATIK

Batik Art & Craft Culture


Batik Art Designs: Paintings, Fabric, Process and Techniques

Batik prints are so common in our society today, that it's hard to imagine a life without their beauty.

Although the exact origin of batik is unknown, there are several theories touching on it. The Batik art designs have found their way into the lives of many. Read on to know more about this extremely popular form of art.

Batik today, is found not only in the form of paintings but the patterns are also used on garments as well. From the walls of the living room, traditional Batik has reached the urban markets as supermodels all around the world also use sarongs or caftans made from the unique Batik technique. Unfortunately, a lot of fabrics have cropped up which only resemble Batik but are not actually made from the traditional techniques.

Batik Tie & Dye is one of the method to create beautiful works of art. This may not always be possible if you employ the old techniques.

Let us take a look into the old and new techniques of Batik and how this form has added so much color into our lives.

History of Batik:

Batik, using Tie & Dye technique is one of the most popular and attractive forms of art. Individuals have shown a major inclination towards this art right from the olden days. Batik has carved a niche for itself in the field of arts and craft. One can easily recognize a Batik item as it has established its own identity. This process has been used to create various designs and patterns on dress materials, home furnishings etc., not only in Indonesia, but all around the world. This art has thus played an important part in creating designer garments and decorative items for your homes. As a result over the years the popularity of Batik and Tie and Dye has increased.

Indonesia is renown for it’s Batik. The word 'Batik' is derived from the Javanese word "amba" (to write) and "titik"(for dot or point). This ancient art originated more precisely in the famous island of Java. The Europeans were known to be foremost to learn this art. They took it on from here and introduced it in their own countries. The Persians and Egyptians have also been known to use colorful materials made from Batik later on.

The Batik process and techniques gained prominence when it gradually spread to other countries. Countries like China, Japan, India and Africa have used their own style and interpretations of this art. This resulted in Batik being known as a decorative form of art. A lot of experiments have been carried out to date, in this regard.


The Chinese contributions to the batik designs are most evident in the use of more flower and bird motifs, border patterns, incorporating the use of pinks, yellows, and blues. Dutch and Eurasian women have favored the use of European floral bouquets, birds, bees, trees and butterflies in their patterns, a trend that is popularly in use today. All three cultures influenced the design and color combinations so heavily, that batik is often associated with these influential characteristics