Batik is an ancient textile art that involves the use of wax to cover the fabric before the dyeing process. The end result is beautiful patterns that give batik its distinctive characteristics. The batik dyeing technique is one of the main stages in making batik, allowing craftsmen to create diverse and incredible works of art.
Making batik is not easy. It requires a lot of precision and patience. To make a piece of batik, several stages must be passed. One of them is the dyeing process.
Here are some batik dyeing techniques that craftsmen often use:
1. Colet Technique/Paint Technique
People have known about this coloring technique for a long time, and they often employ it on brightly colored coastal batik. This technique, resembling painting, involves using a type of rattan or brush as a tool to directly apply dyes such as indigosol or remasol to the main batik motif, which has been restricted by wax to prevent spilling onto other parts.
Using this technique, you can give a piece of batik multiple colors, and you can select the motif to paint. However, this method can take a long time to complete if there are many motifs to draw.
2. Tie Dye Technique
This technique is one of the easiest. The tie-dye technique is making motifs on fabric by tying parts of the fabric, and then dipping them in a dye solution. After being removed from the dye solution, the ties are opened so that the tied part is not exposed to the color.
This tie-dye technique uses rope, thread, and rubber as color-blocking materials. Ikat dye is known in several regions in Indonesia under the names jumputan, tritik (Central Java and Yogyakarta), Sasirangan (Banjarmasin), and Pelangi (Palembang).
3. Spray Technique
The spray technique with an airbrush, typically employed in vehicle painting, can serve as an alternative method for coloring batik. Utilizing an airbrush and compressor yields distinctive and appealing colors in a relatively short period.
The colors on the batik exhibit increased diversity, appearing both natural and artistic. Dark colors are achieved with naphthol, while light colors are achieved using indigosol. However, despite the technique’s ease, it regrettably results in colors that often overlap, appear uneven, and seem to fade.
4. Wiping Technique
This technique piques interest due to its ability to generate gradient colors. It involves dipping a sponge-shaped tool into a dye solution containing synthetic materials like indigosol and naphthol and then rubbing it over the batik motif. One can blend and apply multiple colors simultaneously, requiring ample creativity to achieve stunning outcomes. However, a drawback of this method is that the color does not adhere well to the fabric.
Those are the batik dyeing techniques you must know. Hopefully, the information is useful for you. Check also other posts to learn more about Indonesian Batik.
