What is Hand Painted ?
Textile hand printing is the process of applying colour to fabric in definite patterns or designs. In properly printed fabrics the colour is bonded with the fabric, 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. The Resist Process called Dabu used here involves using of wax or gum clay mixed with resin. With the help of a brush or block or by hand this is applied to the portions of the cloth. The colour is then applied to it. The wax is then washed off in hot or flowing water and the applied colour moves into this area to give a diffused effect. This process is somewhat similar to the batik process. Now Block printing is done on the portion of the cloth where the original colour is retained. The fabric is highlighted by printing Specific outlines and patterns against the contrast colour. The use of wax gives the designs a broken appearance like batik once the resist is washed off. The small Chaubundi print in indigo is famous in Birbhum in West Bengal. Chanderi, Mangalgiri, Maheshwari ,Tussar are few options for Hand Printed Sarees.