• Raw Materials:
The process of block printing is widespread due to its intricate process, motifs and vibrant colors. The main raw material is the color used in the printing. Traditionally the artisans used natural colors but today it has been replaced by chemical and artificial colors.
The main raw materials are Colors/ Dyes.
Different types of dyes are used for silk and cotton.
• Vegetable/ Natural dyes
• Discharge Dyes
• Pigment dyes
• Reactive dyes
• Rapid fast Colors
Vegetable/ Natural dyes:
Since ages artisans are using vegetable dyes for printing and dying. As they are extracted from the nature, vegetables, fruits etc., they are beneficial for the environment along with having traditional importance. There are few major colors produced naturally which are known internationally too.
- Indigo Blue:
Extracted from the indigo plant found throughout India.
- Red:
This is obtained by mixing alizarin with alum. The color ranges from pink to deep red.
- Black:
This is acidic solution of iron which is obtained by processing rusted nails, horse shoes, iron
scrap etc. with jiggery and salt. The mixture is buried under the ground and allowed to rot
for about 10-15 days. It is then taken out and the color is prepared.
- Green:
The skin of pomegranate is processed by boiling.
Apart from this artisans also use bark of mango tree, vinegar, slaked lime etc.
Discharge Dyes:
These dyes are used to print on dark background. The printing colors have chemical which react with the dark ground fabric and bleaches out the dark color from that particular place and prints the desired color. In this process a range of white and other light colors can be printed on a dark background.
Pigment Dyes:
These colors are readily available in the market and are easy to use. The mixed colors can be stored in plastic buckets after use. Pigment colors, brought from the market are further mixed with kerosene and a binder. The mixing has to be done carefully as the thickness of the material can give raised effects on the cloth while printing. These colors follow the direct printing technique. Colors applied are visible and do not change after washing. A number of colors can be obtained by mixing two or more pigment colors.
Reactive Dyes:
These are the chemical dyes which when mixed with second chemical produces a third color. Artisans therefore dye the cloth, to be printed, in one chemical and then print it with another chemical. These two chemicals react with each other and hence produce a different color. There are only few chemical dyes available in the market.
Rapid fast Colors:
These colors are difficult to store and has to be used the same day. In rapid fast color process the color in the design and the ground color both are printed in one go. Generally white or light background is used. There are only few colors available in this process.
Cloth:
Traditionally the printing was done on white or pale background of cotton cloth. Today the craft is practiced on any material ranging from cotton, silk, organza, jute, kotadoriya, chiffon, paper etc.
The process of block printing is widespread due to its intricate process, motifs and vibrant colors. The main raw material is the color used in the printing. Traditionally the artisans used natural colors but today it has been replaced by chemical and artificial colors.
The main raw materials are Colors/ Dyes.
Different types of dyes are used for silk and cotton.
• Vegetable/ Natural dyes
• Discharge Dyes
• Pigment dyes
• Reactive dyes
• Rapid fast Colors
Vegetable/ Natural dyes:
Since ages artisans are using vegetable dyes for printing and dying. As they are extracted from the nature, vegetables, fruits etc., they are beneficial for the environment along with having traditional importance. There are few major colors produced naturally which are known internationally too.
- Indigo Blue:
Extracted from the indigo plant found throughout India.
- Red:
This is obtained by mixing alizarin with alum. The color ranges from pink to deep red.
- Black:
This is acidic solution of iron which is obtained by processing rusted nails, horse shoes, iron
scrap etc. with jiggery and salt. The mixture is buried under the ground and allowed to rot
for about 10-15 days. It is then taken out and the color is prepared.
- Green:
The skin of pomegranate is processed by boiling.
Apart from this artisans also use bark of mango tree, vinegar, slaked lime etc.
Discharge Dyes:
These dyes are used to print on dark background. The printing colors have chemical which react with the dark ground fabric and bleaches out the dark color from that particular place and prints the desired color. In this process a range of white and other light colors can be printed on a dark background.
Pigment Dyes:
These colors are readily available in the market and are easy to use. The mixed colors can be stored in plastic buckets after use. Pigment colors, brought from the market are further mixed with kerosene and a binder. The mixing has to be done carefully as the thickness of the material can give raised effects on the cloth while printing. These colors follow the direct printing technique. Colors applied are visible and do not change after washing. A number of colors can be obtained by mixing two or more pigment colors.
Reactive Dyes:
These are the chemical dyes which when mixed with second chemical produces a third color. Artisans therefore dye the cloth, to be printed, in one chemical and then print it with another chemical. These two chemicals react with each other and hence produce a different color. There are only few chemical dyes available in the market.
Rapid fast Colors:
These colors are difficult to store and has to be used the same day. In rapid fast color process the color in the design and the ground color both are printed in one go. Generally white or light background is used. There are only few colors available in this process.
Cloth:
Traditionally the printing was done on white or pale background of cotton cloth. Today the craft is practiced on any material ranging from cotton, silk, organza, jute, kotadoriya, chiffon, paper etc.
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