Woodblock

Woodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia

printing
and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper.

Block printing is a form of dying and coloring a fabric using wooden blocks. India is one
of the largest manufacturers and exporters of block printed fabric in the world. Block
printing craftsmen use wooden or metal blocks to create beautiful designs
 What is a Block Print?
A block print is a piece of printed material made using the block printing technique. In block printing, the
printer carves the design to be printed into a solid block, much like a stamp. The design can include text or
be purely visual, and the block can be applied to paper or textiles. Block printing is an ancient printing
technique, and numerous examples of historical block prints can be found in the historical records of
Europe and Asia

Several techniques can be used to create a block print. First, the block is inked with the assistance of a
roller. The carved areas will show up as white in the final product, while the raised portions left behind will
print. The block can be used to stamp paper, the printer can place paper on the block and rub it,
Colors in block printing: Saffron Marigold insists that it's range of Linens and Bedding are
made from mineral or vegetable dyes. These dyes are non-toxic in origin and will cause no adverse effects
towards it's users or the people who are intricate in making this product.

Finishing Touches: Before our linen is ready for you, the final touches such as adding buttons and beadings
are hand sewn to create the gorgeous fabric that will adorn your fine homes today.
Techniques of Block
Printing
•  Direct Printing : In this technique, the cotton or silk cloth is first bleached. Then the fabric is dyed,
unless a light background is desired. Thereafter, the fabric is printed using carved blocks, first the outline
blocks, then the ones to fill color.
•  Resist Printing : In the resist technique, areas that are to be protected from the dye are covered with a
mixture of clay and resin. The dyed fabric is then washed. The dye spreads into the protected areas through
cracks, producing a rippled effect. Block prints are then used to create further designs.
 There are two methods of printing to consider
Stamping
Used for many fabrics, and most early European woodcuts (1400–40) These were printed by
putting the paper or fabric on a table or other flat surface with the block on top, and pressing or
hammering the back of the block.

Rubbing
Apparently the most common for Far Eastern printing on paper at all times. Used for
European woodcuts and block-books later in the 15th century, and very widely for
cloth. The block goes face up on a table, with the paper or fabric on top. The back is
rubbed with a "hard pad, a flat piece of wood, a burnisher, or a leather frotton".
Discharge Printing: In this technique of block printing. First, the fabric is dyed in the desired
color. Then, a chemical is applied to some regions of the fabric to fade or remove the color effect. Further,
these faded regions are again dyed but in different color, so that a different color effect is produced.

Block Printing is done in various parts of India . Main centers of block printing in Gujarat and Rajasthan are
Ahmedabad, Sanganer, Bagru, Farrukhabad and Pethapur. Ajrakh prints and Lepakshi prints are some of the
most popular block prints.
 Centers of Block Printing in
Block Printing in Gujarat
India
In Gujarat, this form of hand printing has been practiced and perpetuated by the Paithapur
families. They make intricate blocks, and print their textiles using the mud resist-printing
method. These prints are called Sodagiri (trader) prints.
Dhamadka village in Gujarat is known for a block printed fabric called Ajrakh. The popular
designs of block printing in this village are geometric. The artisans use natural colors such as
red from the madder root, black from a rusty iron solution and blue from indigo.
In Kutch, the popular patterns are black and red designs of birds, animals, and dancing girls.
The saris of Ahmadabad and Baroda have large mango patterns against a red or blue
background.
The other well known centers for block printing in Gujarat are Bhavnagar, Vasna, Rajkot,
Jamnagar, Jetpur and Porbandar.
Block Printing in Rajasthan
From Gujarat, the art of block printing spread to Rajasthan. Here colorful prints of birds, animals, human
figures, gods and goddesses are popular. The important centers for this form of hand printing are Raipur,
Bangru, Sanganer, Pali and Barmer.
Sanganer is famous for its Calico printed bed covers, quilts and saris. In Calico printing, the outlines are
first printed, and then the color is filled in. Bold patterns and colors are popular. They are printed repeatedly
in diagonal rows. Doo Rookhi printing is also famous here. In this technique, artists print on both sides of the
cloth.
Bagru is famous for its Syahi-Begar prints and Dabu prints. The former are designs in a combination of
black and yellow ochre or cream. The latter are prints in which portions are hidden from the dye by applying
a resist paste.
Barmer is known for its prints of red chilies with blue-black outlines, surrounded by flower-laden trees.
The other famous prints are of horses, camels, peacocks and lions, called Sikar and Shekahawat prints.
Block Printing in Punjab
The block printing from Punjab is not as famous as its Rajasthan counterpart, but is still merit worthy. It was
the art of a group of textile workers called Chhimba . The designs were usually floral and geometrical. Today,
traditional designs have been displaced, and vegetable dyes have been replaced by chemical ones. The
colors are light and pastel. The motifs are usually mangoes, peacocks and nets.
Block Printing in West Bengal
The art of block printing is not traditional to West Bengal, and was introduced at the beginning of the
twentieth century. Since then, Bengal's block printing artists have built on the traditional designs and created
several of their own. In West Bengal, Serampur is the center of block printing. It is well-known for its bold
and vibrant patterns.
Block Printing in Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, the block printing method is applied in the creation of the exquisite Kalamkari Painting.
Kalamkari, as the name suggests, is artwork ( Kari ) created with a pen ( Kalam ). It is a combination of hand
painting and block printing.
 How to Block Print Fabric
Block printing is a traditional Indian way of decorating textiles. It has
become widely used because it is an uncomplicated method that creates
vibrant, colorful patterns. Chemical and artificial colors have replaced
the traditional natural dyes used in block printing. The principal tints
are red, yellow, blue and saffron. Block printing can be manufactured,
but here we offer step by step instructions to decorate your own fabrics
by hand block printing
 Instructions
(1)Draw your design or place tracing paper over the design you wish to reproduce, and outline the design with
a pencil.
(2)Trace the design onto a linoleum block using carbon paper, and go over the lines with a permanent marker.

(3)Etch out the negative areas on the linoleum with carving tools.
(4)Repeat this process on other linoleum blocks for different elements of your design, if your pattern requires
it.
(5)Stamp the design onto the right side of your fabric. Continue to ink the linoleum block as necessary.
The Process of Hand Block Printing
Block printing has became popular because a rather simple process can create such sensational prints in
many and varied rich vibrant colors. Originally natural dyes were used but today they have been replaced by
chemical and artificial colors. The main colors used are red, the color of love, yellow the color of spring, blue
as in Krishna, and saffron of the yogi. The main tools of the printer are wooden blocks in different shapes and
sizes called bunta.
Wooden Print Blocks are made of seasoned wood, including teak wood and Indian Sheesham wood.  These
often finely carved stamps are carved by trained craftsmen. The underside of the block has the design etched
on it. Each block has a wooden handle and two to three cylindrical holes drilled into the block for free air
passage and also to allow release of excess printing paste/dye. The new blocks are soaked in oil for 10-15
days to soften the grains in the timber.

Wooden trolleys with racks have castor wheels fastened to their legs to facilitate free movement. The printer
drags it along as he works. On the upper most shelf trays of dye are placed. On the lower shelves printing
blocks are kept ready.

The fabric to be printed is washed free of starch and soft bleached if the natural grey of the fabric is not
desired. If dyeing is required as in the case of saris, where borders, or the body is tied and dyed, it is done
before printing. The fabric is stretched over the printing table and fastened with small pins (in the case of
saris the pallu is printed first then the border).

The printing starts form left to right. The color is evened out in the tray with a wedge of wood and the block
dipped into the outline color (usually black or a dark color). When the block is applied to the fabric, it is
slammed hard with the fist on the back of the handle so that a good impression may register. A point on the
block serves as a guide for the repeat impression, so that the whole effect is continuous and not disjoined.
The outline printer is usually an expert because he is the one who leads the process.
What can you do with our wooden print blocks?
There's so many things... just a few are:
Use them as a decorative piece of art
Use them to imprint fabric
Use them to imprint paper
Use them to imprint on walls
stamping clay or FEMO, sculpey, Premo!
make custom tiles
use these stamps to apply henna tattoos
Using Shiva or Pentel Oil Paintsticks, you can "trace" the designs of the printblocks onto fabrics(like a t-shirt)
(kind of like tracing a tombstone) and they're permanent!
and many of our clients use these stamps for impressing designs into clay, plaster or paint. 
 Textile wood printing
Textile printing is the process of applying colour to fabric in definite patterns or designs. In properly printed fabrics the
colour is bonded with the fiber, so as to resist washing and friction. Textile printing is related to dyeing but, whereas in
dyeing proper the whole fabric is uniformly covered with one colour, in printing one or more colours are applied to it in
certain parts only, and in sharply defined patterns.
In printing, wooden blocks, stencils, engraved plates, rollers, or silkscreens are used to place colours on the fabric.
Colourants used in printing contain dyes thickened to prevent the colour from spreading by capillary attraction beyond the
limits of the pattern or design.
Traditional textile printing techniques may be broadly categorised into four styles:
 Technology
Textile printing was introduced into England in 1676 by a French refugee who opened works, in that year, on
the banks of the Thames near Richmond. Curiously enough this is the first print-works on record; but the
nationality and political status of its founder are sufficient to prove that printing was previously carried on in
France. In Germany, too, textile printing was in all probability well established before it spread to England,
for, towards the end of the 17th century, the district of Augsburg was celebrated for its printed linens, a
reputation not likely to have been built up had the industry been introduced later than 1676.

From an artistic point of view most of the pioneer work in calico printing was done by the
French; and so rapid was their advance in this branch of the business that they soon came to be acknowledged
as its leading exponents. Their styles of design and schemes of colour were closely followed-even deliberately
copied by all other European printers; arid, from the early days of the industry down to the latter half of the
10th century, the productions of the French printers in Jouy, Beauvais, Rouen, Alsace-Lorraine, &c., were
looked upon as representing all that was best in artistic calico printing.
SUBMITED BY

RAJNISH
KUMAR ROLL
NO. 17
KD !!!
Nift Kolkata