Block and Hand Printing - Varanasi
Hand painting is another method used in the Banaras saree making. In this process, the outlines, borders and lines to distinguish the patterns on certain designs are drawn using hand painting technique apart from block printing and screen printing. It is one of oldest technique’s to embed designs on sarees.
Screen printing is additional manual method of spread over of color; primarily it is stenciling. The screen of fine silk material is overextended on a four-sided wooden table which may be as large as 4 feet by 6 feet, forming a surface through in which the color lies, each color in the design will necessitate a separate screen. The color is pressed through the open meshes of design by a rubber squeegee. For the actual printing, but on each side is fitted a metal screens. About 30 feet of material is placed in position on the table and the first screen fitted correctly by using the stops. Color is poured on the screen and squeegee into the fabric, imposing two operatives for its application. When the first screen with its own color has been stimulated into the third or fourth point along fabric, the printing then proceeds forming a pattern/design. After the process of printing and drying, the necessary chemical treatments of ageing, followed by washing, soaping, rinsing and drying takes place. As the screens are easy and cheap to prepare, this type of printing has become very popular; the colors have a transparency, clarity, richness and are not seen in roller prints.
