Indonesians have generally used batik to decorate items of clothing. Because of the warm and humid tropical climate, traditional Indonesian clothing is fairly simple and comfortable. The word batik is thought to be derived from the word 'ambatik' which translated means 'a cloth with little dots'. The suffix 'tik' means little dot, drop, point or to make dots. Batik may also originate from the Javanese word 'tritik' which describes a resist process for dying where the patterns are reserved on the textiles by tying and sewing areas prior to dying, similar to tie dye techniques. Another Javanese phase for the mystical experience of making batik is “mbatik manah” which means “drawing a batik design on the heart”.The cloth that is used for batik is washed and boiled in water many times prior to the application of wax so that all traces of starches, lime, chalk and other sizing materials are removed. Prior to the implementation of modern day techniques, the cloth would have been pounded with a wooden mallet or ironed to make it smooth and supple so it could best receive the wax design. With the finer machine-made cotton available today, the pounding or ironing processes can be omitted. Normally men did this step in the batik process. Strict industry standards differentiate the different qualities of the cloth used today, which include Primissima (the best) and Prima. The cloth quality is often written on the edge of the design. A lesser quality cloth which is often used in Blaco.
It would be impossible to visit or live in Indonesia and not be exposed to one of the country's most highly developed art forms, batik. On your first visit to a batik store or factory you will undoubtedly experience an overwhelming stimulation of the senses - due to the many colors, patterns and the actual smell of batik. Only through repeated visits and a bit of study will the types of designs and their origins become apparent.
The word batik is thought to be derived from the word 'ambatik' which translated means 'a cloth with little dots'. The suffix 'tik' means little dot, drop, point or to make dots. Batik may also originate from the Javanese word 'tritik' which describes a resist process for dying where the patterns are reserved on the textiles by tying and sewing areas prior to dying, similar to tie dye techniques. Another Javanese phase for the mystical experience of making batik is “mbatik manah” which means “drawing a batik design on the heart”.
Batik Tools
Although the art form of batik is very intricate, the tools that are used are still very simple. The canting, believed to be a purely Javanese invention, is a small thin wall spouted copper container (sometimes called a wax pen) that is connected to a short bamboo handle. Normally it is approximately 11 cm. in length. The copper container is filled with melted wax and the artisan then uses the canting to draw the design on the cloth.
1. Canting
The wajan is the container that holds the melted wax. It looks like a small wok. Normally it is made of iron or earthenware. The wajan is placed on a small brick charcoal stove or a spirit burner called an 'anglo'. The wax is kept in a melted state while the artisan is applying the wax to the cloth.
3. Wax
Different kinds and qualities of wax are used in batik. Common waxes used for batik consist of a mixture of beeswax, used for its malleability, and paraffin, used for its friability. Resins can be added to increase adhesiveness and animal fats create greater liquidity.
The best waxes are from the Indonesian islands of Timor, Sumbawa and Sumatra; three types of petroleum-based paraffin (white, yellow and black) are used. The amounts mixed are measured in grams and vary according to the design. Wax recipes can be very closely guarded secrets. Varying colors of wax make it possible to disguise different parts of the pattern through the various dying stages. Larger areas of the pattern are filled in with wax that is cheaper quality and the higher quality wax is used on the more intricately detailed sections of the design.
The wax must be kept at the proper temperature. A wax that is too cool will clog the spout of the canting. A wax that is too hot will flow too quickly and be uncontrollable. The artisan will often blow into the spout of the canting before applying wax to the cloth in order to clear the canting of any obstructions.
4. Cap ( Stemple )
Creating batik is a very time consuming craft. To meet growing demands and make the fabric more affordable to the masses, in the mid-19th century the . cap. (copper stamp - pronounced chop) was developed. This invention enabled a higher volume of batik production compared to the traditional method which entailed the tedious application of wax by hand with a canting. Each cap is a copper block that makes up a design unit. Cap are made of 1.5 cm wide copper stripes that are bent into the shape of the design. Smaller pieces of wire are used for the dots. When complete, the pattern of copper strips is attached to the handle. The cap must be precisely made. This is especially true if the pattern is to be stamped on both sides of the fabric. It is imperative that both sides of the cap are identical so that pattern will be consistent.
Process Of Batik
Whom spell out members batik only can be conducted by people who of have profession as Batiks Maker? if will and know its way, You also can make traditional cloth typically the The Indonesia with do not fail nicely its . Some appliance and substance which must be drawn up by before batik is calico ( can made the than sutra or cotton), canting as a means of shaper motif, gawangan ( place for batiks cloth), and wax, candle of besides pan and stove minimize to heat
1. First step is making referred as by ordinary design batik of molani. In of determination of motif/design Batik , generally every body own appetite different each other. There is which prefer to make Design Batik, batik motif by xself, more opting other but to follow prevailing motifs which there have such as at shop batik. weared Frequent motif in Indonesia by xself is batik which have divisible become 2 : classic batik what a lot of fiddling around with symbols, and batik pesisiran with individuality of natural of such as flower picture and the butterfly. Batik technique by xself there are some type : Batik cloth write which its motif in picture with use canting, batik stamp where motif making use brand with motif which have been made available, and batik print which its depiction is use machine
2. After finishing to do/conduct molani, step second is using canting which tealh contain liquid wax;candle to arrange in layers motif of the desired of such as at batik shop. Its target is spaya at dipping of substance into colourant condensation, shares gave by wax;candle coat is not incured. After wax;candle enough run dry, plunge cloth into colourant condensation
3. Last process is nglorot, where batik cloth which have turned colour braised by a hot water. Its target is to omit wax;candle coat, so that the motif which the picture have stand-out previous.
You needn't worry, this dipping will not make motif which you have draw incured by colour
since tabletop of the cloth still be blanketed by the wax;candle coat ( wax;candle is not be full discolour). After have, hence the the batik ready for used
Writing Batiks of Manually
1. Sketch
The first wax is applied over the penciled-in outline of the pattern. Almost always the original cloth is white or beige.
2. Fill the Ground
The cloth is dyed in the first dye bath. In this case the first dyebath is indigo blue. The area of the cloth where the wax was applied in Step 1 will remain white.Second application of wax is applied. In this case it is a dark brown color. A poorer quality of wax is used to cover larger areas of cloth. The darker color helps to differentiate it from the first wax applied. Any parts that are covered with this wax application will remain the indigo color.
3. The cloth is dyed in the second dye bath. In this case it is a navy blue. Any areas that are not covered by wax will become dark blue.
4. All the wax that has been applied thus far is removed. This is done by heating the wax and scraping it off and also by applying hot water and sponging off the remaining wax.
5. Wax is applied to the area of the fabric that the artist wishes to remain the indigo blue color.
6. Wax is applied to the area of the fabric that the artist wishes to remain white.
7. The fabric is submerged in the final dye bath. In this case it is brown. Any areas of the cloth that have not been covered with wax will become brown.
8 The finished cloth after all of the wax has been removed.
