SETTING UP BATIK FACTORY - 3

3. Drawing/Designing

This post is a continuation of the previous post under the heading of Setting Up Batik Factory. And, we are talking about a hand drawing batik. After this program, we will talk about printing batik with blocks....

Now, take small towel before starting to draw. The towel will be used to support the drawing tool from dropping the wax anywhere before the drawing can be done.

Take the drawing tool, dip it into the pot containing the mixture of melted wax and soaking powder, stir for few seconds for the purpose of heating the tool. Next, take out the drawing tool (containing the hot mixture) with the towel covering the edge of the tool and proceed with the drawing of your design on the blank silk on the frame. Just go on drawing until the tool temperature is cooling down and the mixture flow is also slowing down. Remember, only hot mixture will stick to the cloth. So, you have to get the hot stuff again and again until you stop drawing.

Make sure you draw some things or objects which can attract your customers such as flowers, geometries or symbols which you can apply with colors later on.

Coloring also significant. Choose any color powder of your own to be the background color. Only a few drops of the color will be mixed with about 3 liter of plain water to create a light background color. This is to allow you to put different colors for the flowers and leaves or the symbols or objects. You may buy the powder colors from any supplier around the World...and from my experience, I propose that you get it from Germany.

After finishing the background using painting brush, you must allow it to be dried by itself. Make sure the background color is dried, before coloring the objects or whatever. Remember, the background color will affect the secondary color. For example, if the background color is light blue, the use of yellow as secondary color will end up with light green, and likewise if the background color is light yellow and the second one is blue because a mixture of yellow and blue colors will create green color.

I will not ask you to follow me in respect to the color you will choose. You may have a colorless background or whatever. Most important is the use of powder colors are vital as you can apply it with water. Less water is for ticker or darker color and more water for lighter color. The combination of colors are vital for a successful batik production.

After you are satisfied with the paintings, you must let it dried under the sun light. Keep it under the dry container and away from water. If you have several frames for drawing batik, then utilize it for some other design. Try to draw for few sets of blank caftan too. Repeat the process for drawing as I told earlier.

sodium silicate solution

Take the Sodium Silicate solution/liquid and pour it into a container or a basin. Add the quantity of this chemical if there are more colored clothes. Three liters of Silicate is enough for 1 cloth. The use of Silicate is to ensure the colors will stick to the clothes forever.

Repeat the processing procedures I have told you earlier ( whereby in the lower part of the last post I have explained in detail how to create a single batik, the procedures are similar for more productions ) for the use of Sodium Silicate, the rinsing and cleaning from the chemicals, the boiling to released wax on the clothes and so on until the products is ready for sale.

Bye for now.