Hand block printing is the traditional technique of India. It has been practiced for centuries. This fabric printing technique involves the use of dyed and carved wooden blocks. Beautiful patterns created on fabric by pressing those wooden blocks onto it. In block printing only a single color is used. Bagru in Rajasthan is the main center of manual block printing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Block Carving: Block carvers and dyers are mainly from the Chhipa cast of Rajasthan, India. It is the first step of block printing. It is an ancestral skill that is passed down from generation to generation. Small hammers, chisels and drills are used to carve patterns into wooden blocks. Death of Blocks: Blocks are placed in mustard oil and left to sit for at least 7 days. For this reason the blocks will not crack during drying. Carvers make holes in the wood to extend its life. Application of colored paste – The colored paste is applied to the surface of the wooden block after carving it. This is done with the help of "sieve". This paste is made from wheat grain powder, black earth and tree gum. The wooden block is pressed onto the fabric but first gently dabbed onto the paste. Fabric Treatment: To remove all starch, the fabric is first washed and subjected to gentle bleaching to remove the natural grey, dyeing is necessary for saree lengths fabric. This is done before the printing process. The fabric will be spread by the craftsman on a printing table and fixed with small pins. Printing – Printing is a special technique and you need to follow it in order. We always start from left to right. The block is dipped in dark color and applied to the fabric by the craftsman. A beautiful impression obtained with the energetic action using the hand tightened on the back of the handle. This is done over and over again throughout the length and breadth of the material. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Final touch: After the printing process, the craftsman sprinkles some sawdust on the fabric. It prevents the formation of stains on the drawing and also helps to seal the printed drawings. Then the fabric is left to dry in the sun. For block printing, different dyes are used on cotton and silk fabrics. Some common dyes are fast dyes, indigo sol, and pigment dyes. Most colors used for block printing are black, brown, orange, mustard and red.