Craft Haven: Printing in Sanganer

Exploring Screen Printing and Block Printing Process in Sanganer district of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

By ABURY Foundation

ABURY Foundation

Block print (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Introduction

Outside of the main city of Jaipur, lies Sanganer, one of the main hubs for hand dyeing and hand printing of Indian textiles. Screen Printing is a process used to print large volumes of fabric allowing various intricate patterns with digital and traditional processes. Block printing on the other hand is a technique where a wooden block is carved into a pattern and then dipped in a paste of colour and pressed on fabric to leave a motifs. Traditionally these patterns are inspired by the flora and fauna. Mostly small flower motifs, birds, animals are used in designing sari borders, kurtas and home textiles. Geometrical patterns are also used after Persian influences to create rather contemporary designs. Blocks of all sizes are made for different results. Printing can be done both on dyed fabric as well as whites. Indigo dying and tie and dye are used in combination with block to create interesting patterns. Through this photo exhibit, we try to document a day at a workshop capturing the behind the scenes and process of hand printed textiles from Jaipur, Rajasthan. 

Screen printing beds (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

The process of Screen Printing is carried on wooden beds. laid to print yards of fabric at the same time under make shiift sheds in a small workshop which allows artists to work in natural light.

Mix of different dyes (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Buckets of dyes are prepared to create a thick fluid in several colour combinations to use for both Screens and blocks. These colours could be organic and natural, but sometimes synthetic.

Digital screens (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Screens are made of designs that are mostly made digitally and printed before they are framed on wooden screens. The process is followed by punching these to create holes that would allow printing.

Washing the screens (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Artisans fix the design on a screen frame after punching. This process involves a few steps as it can be very technical to fix this accurately with the measurements of the frame and fabric.

Variety of blocks (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Block Printing is widely used for smaller motifs. Blocks are a traditional way of printing and sometimes a variety of combinations and both Screen and block printing are used to get the result.

Closer look at a handcut block (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Blocks are both machine cut for more intricate designs as well as handcut for simpler motifs. Designers can be innovative to create floral and geometric patterns of repeats in various sizes with these

Makeshift washing sheds (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

The workshop consists of an outside area for drying, mixing, washing which is also covered by handmade sheds as most artisans have to work in warms temperatures and these are good for ventilation.

White fabric (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Every workshop has stacks of White Fabric, bought in various weights and qualities, which serves as base before dyeing. These fabrics are bought in bulk to save costs and supplied by local vendors.

White fabric washing (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Machines are used to roll white fabric on these electronic washers. Treatment is required to sometimes soften the fabric and get rid of starch and dirt before dying or printing.

Fabric dyeing (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

White Fabric is then dried in outside sheds in natural sunlight before it is used for printing. This process also loosens the fabric giving it the fluidity it needs.

Measuring and folding the fabric (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Fabric is stretched , measured and cut after washing and drying on wooden frames before it is laid to print. This process needs skill and strength.

Process of screen fixing on the beds (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Finally the process of printing starts when the Artisans choose the screens they will use in repetition and lay the washed and stretched fabric on wooden beds, sealing them from all sides for accuracy

Artisans screen printing (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Here, Artisans are working on the first layer of the printing buy forming single colour repeat patterns. Before the next layer of colour, these are dried so two colours do not leak into each other.

First print (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

A closer look at the first print. One can see that this is incomplete as another layer and more colours will be added with other screens on top of this.

Screen printed fabric (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

After all the layers of printing, the final design is ready. You can notice, that the first layer of blue pattern is still visible beneath the indigo layer and white flowers that are block printed.

Screen printing beds with vat (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

After several times of printing, the beds have layers of vat dye on them and are left open to dry. Most of these rooms are dark as the screen should not be over exposed to light.

Screen washing pool (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

A cemented washing area is used to wash used screens to un-colour them. This has high pressure water with detergents that clean the dye of the screens that are then ready for next round of printing.

Fabric washing roller (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

The dyed fabric also needs washing several times after printing so the extra colour can bleed and the true colours of the fabric can be seen. This fabric is also sometimes starched.

Washing printed fabric (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Cold water dipping is also a technique used for certain kind of fabrics to allow the extra vat to discharge and colour bleeding. Fabrics are then ironed, starched and cut for markets.

Block print (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

A variation can be seen in colours using the same blocks in different repeat patterns. Usually 3-4 blocks are created to make different parts of the same design. Here one can see 3 layers on the base.

Block print (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

The most common motifs are floral repeats in traditional bright colours. These can be played around with different sizes, patterns and composition. Sometimes the same block can create so many results.

Screen print (2010-07)ABURY Foundation

Here one colour screen has been used on the base fabric dyed using indigo. These geometric repeats are also floral in style. Only two layers are used, making it more cost and labour affective.

Credits: Story

Content and Curation: Sayali Goyal

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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