Process

Block Printed Kalamkari is mainly a combination of different intricate blocks, colours extracted from
nature and artisans own interpretation of applying beauty on plain fabric. The process of kalamkari
block printing is a combination of different steps. After observing the whole process it can be devided
into three main parts:
1. Block Making
2. Dye Processing
3. Preparation of fabric
4. Block Printing Process
Block Making
Raw Material
Blocks are mainly made out of original Teck Wood. The possibility of intricacy of the design depends on
the age of the tree which is cut in blocks. Age of one wooden block is judged by counting the lines on the
wooden block. One line indicates the wooden block is one year old. Old wooden blocks are expensive
and appropriate for intricate designs.
These wooden blocks are mainly sourced from Rajmandri. The artisans themselves go to Rajmandri to
choose appropriate wooden blocks and buy them in bulk. They get minimum 850-900s2 ft Teck wood
one time which takes 8 to 10 months to get produced as blocks. For transportation they use lorry.

Process Flowchart
Selection of wooden block ------smoothening-- application of titanium powder----------tracing out the
design-----------curving ----------finishing------------end processing
Process in Detail
Selection of wooden block
There are different designs with different intricacy. Wooden blocks are selected according to the design.
After the selection is over the block goes for smoothening.
Smoothening
Smoothening is mainly done because of the uneven surface of wooden block which may creat a problem
while curving the block.
Tools: Filer. Sand papers are mainly used.
Application of Titanium powder
Titanium powder is a white powder which is mixed with favicol and applied on front side of selected
wood piece and selected design is traced on that with the help of carbon paper. This powder helps the
design to be permanent and not to get erased by rubbing during the curving process.
Tools: brush to put powder paste on the block, carbon paper
Curving
This is the most important and time consuming process. In the beginning the extra part of the block
other than the design is removed with hammer like wooden tool PANA and a sharp iron rectangular
blade TAPI. Then slowly and very precisely the inner design portion is cut out.
Tools: Pana, Tapi (different sizes)
Finishing
After completing the curving of block it is filed with sand paper to smoothen the rough edges of finished
block otherwise it will create a trouble during printing process.
Sometimes the blocks can break during curving or any other reasons and starting the same block once
again newly increase the costing. In that case artisans carefully stick that part with the help of a mixture
of wood dust and favicol.
Tools: sand paper, mixture of wood dust and favicol
End processing
After finishing the block has to soak in Mungpalli oil minimum 7 to 15 days. It increases the life of blocks.
LIFE OF A BLOCK
Life range of a block entirely depends on end processing, design intricacy and usage of that
block. If the end processing with mungpalli oil is improper, then the block will start to soack the
colour and breaks.
Too much using of block decrease the sharpness of the design and shorten the lifetime.

DYE PROCESSING
Kalamkari is not only famous for its design intricacy, look