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Block Printing and The Process Behind It

Block Printing Process - Hand block printing has been practiced for centuries in India. This traditional technique of fabric printing involves the use of carved and dyed wooden blocks that are pressed on a material to create beautiful patterns. For more: https://www.faridagupta.com/blog/block-printing-process.html

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Farida Gupta
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2K views

Block Printing and The Process Behind It

Block Printing Process - Hand block printing has been practiced for centuries in India. This traditional technique of fabric printing involves the use of carved and dyed wooden blocks that are pressed on a material to create beautiful patterns. For more: https://www.faridagupta.com/blog/block-printing-process.html

Uploaded by

Farida Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Block Printing and the Process Behind It

Hand block printing has been practiced for centuries in India. This traditional technique of
fabric printing involves the use of carved and dyed wooden blocks that are pressed on a
material to create beautiful patterns.

Block printed fabrics can look fabulous when the block is well designed. Typically, only a single
colour is used in block printing.

Block printing is said to have its origins in China. In present day India, Bagru in Rajasthan, is a
key hub of hand block printing. Beautiful traditional textiles are created by craftsmen using
wooden blocks that are generally dyed with mineral and vegetable dyes.

Let’s have a more detailed look at the Block Printing Process in India.

Step 1: Block Carving and Dyeing


It is the Chhipa cast of India (Rajasthan) that has all the block carvers, dyers and printers. Block
carving is the first step in the block printing process and like many other crafts in India, this is
also an ancestral skill, passed down from one generation to the next. Chhipas are equipped
with tools such as small hammers, chisels and drills and use them for carving elaborate
patterns into wooden blocks.

After the carving process, these blocks are put into mustard oil and allowed to rest for at least
a week. This helps prevent cracking of the blocks upon exposure to dry conditions. The carvers
also drill miniature holes into the wooden blocks to allow the wood to breathe. This also
extend the life of the wooden blocks for decades.

Step 2: Application of Colour Paste


After the carving process, colour paste is applied to the wooden block surface with the help
of a ‘sieve’. The contents of this paste usually include tree gum, black earth soil and wheat
grain powder. The wooden block is gently patted onto the paste before being pressed onto a
fabric.

Step 3: Treatment of Fabric


The chosen fabric for block printing is first washed to remove all the starch. It also undergoes
soft bleaching to minimize the appearance of the natural grey. Fabrics such as saree lengths
usually require dyeing. This is done before the printing process begins. For hand block
printing, the craftsman will lay the fabric on a printing table, stretching it across the entire
length and fix it with tiny pins.

Step 4: Printing
Block printing has a special technique that needs to be followed in order to get the desired
results. Printing always begins from left to right. A plank of wood is used for evening out the
colour on the tray. The craftsman dips the block into a dark outline colour and applies it to
the fabric. A strong slamming action using the fist on the handle’s back helps achieve a
beautiful impression. This is done repeatedly along the length and breadth of the fabric.

Step 5: After Treatment


Once the printing process is complete, the craftsman scatters some fine saw dust onto the
wet paste as this prevents the smudging of the design and helps seal the printed parts. The
fabric is then left to dry out in the sun. Different dyes may be used for block printing on cotton
and silk fabrics. Some of the common cotton dyes include indigo sol, pigment dyes and rapid
dyes. The traditional colours used for block printing are red, black, brown, mustard and
orange.

Major Hubs of Hand Block Printing in India


India is known for its intricate hand block prints and most of the hand block printing takes
place in the areas of Bagru, Ahmadabad, Pethapur, Farukhabad and Sanganer. These areas
are part of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

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