Forum Pakistan

A fabric ornamented with the aid of a resistant, batik is popular in the countries of South and Southeast Asia. The process of batik painting is lengthy and labourcon uming. First the fabric is cleaned and boiled, then two kinds of wax are mixed and heated to a liquid state. A wax mass is spread on the fabric with a brush, covering the areas that will remain unpainted. When the wax solidifies the fabric is painted by dipping it in a dye.

This process is repeated as one dye is replaced by another and the wax is removed from the areas required by the design. A characteristic feature of batik painting is a lattice of curving lines that cover both the background and the picture, caused by the dye penetrating cracks in the wax in the process of painting. This web of lines lends batik its unique character, as does the traditional colour, chiefly deep indigo-blue and brown. At present batik is used both in costumes and for decorative purposes such as in pictures, pillowcases, tablecloths, etc.