Introduction To Batik

Batik is a wax resist fiber art. Hot wax is applied to fabric in a design. The wax serves as a resist, preventing the dye from reaching the fabric where it was applied. This technique can be applied in layers with different colors.
The Batik effect is unique in that the wax cracks during handling, either intentionally or not. In each dye bath, the cracks in the wax allow the dye to reach the fabric creating the unique batik effect . Batik can be done on cottons, silks and other natural fabrics. "Faux" batik employs other types of resists, particularly water soluble ones, that are easier to remove than wax, but never quite achieve the same beautiful crackling. Dharma Procion MX Fiber Reactive Dyes are the dye of choice for batik on cotton because they are used with cold water.

Batik masters employ the process of repeated waxing and tub dyeing to achieve their final result. This method involves an understanding of color mixing and overdyeing, as each layer of dye is applied over the last, producing a new color. After many different applications, the background tends towards dark brown, black or grey. The waxed areas remain the lighter shades produced by each individual dye application and combinations thereof.

learn more at :
1. Waxing and Immersion Method
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/batik.html

2.Dyes
http://www.dharmatrading.com/procion.html

What is Batik?

This article is about the painting and textile dyeing technique, for other uses see Batik
disambiguation).
Batik (pronunciation: ['ba.te?], but often, in English, is ['bæ.t?k] or [b?'ti?k]) is a wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. Batik is considered as national art in Indonesia. However, similar patterns like Batik is also found in several countries of West Africa, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and Mali, and in Asia, such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma.

Batik is a fabric dying method using wax to create patterns and designs.This method makes use of a resist technique; applying areas of cloth with wax (a dye-resistant substance) to prevent them from absorbing colors when the cloth is dipped into dye.Not only as a dye-resistant substance, the wax applied is also used to control colors from spreading out from a particular area to create motif when the dye is painted.
Color Batik a method thought to be over a thousand years old, today, batik has taken on a much wider meaning. It can be referred to:
1.cloth block printed with wax or
2.cloth decorated with hand-drawn designs.
3.cloth decorated with traditional batik designs without the use of the resist method.

The use of batik has also extended from clothing to everything from home furnishings and table cloths to handicrafts.

In Malaysia, batik has become a national identity and flourish in the arena of fashion where batik attire is worn for both formal and informal occasions.When Malaysia hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1998, leaders showed up to proceedings decked in floral and swirling trade marked batik patterns.

refferer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batik
http://www.google.com.my/search