How is batik made?

The essence of batik is to produce a design on fabric with the use of dye and resist. The resist is made from hot wax which prevents the color from penetrating the fabric. The fabric is then dipped into vats of color. Extra layers of wax can be added for additional colors. Lighter colors are dyed first to enable over-dying with darker colors. The wax is then removed by gently washing it in warm water.

The wax can be applied in one of two ways. The most common method is the use of a stamp, Which is dipped into the hot wax resist and then carefully placed on the fabric in a repeat pattern until the desired effect has been achieved. The traditional method utilizes a Canting tool to apply the wax to the fabric. With this method, the wax is hand-drawn onto the fabric before dying.  

Traditionally, the art of batik has been considered a spiritual practice.