The sole purpose of textile printing is to make the fabric look visually appealing, and unique. And out of the innumerable printing techniques available, two of the most common ones used widely are block printing and screen-printing techniques.
While many people tend to confuse these two printing styles, the differences are substantial! So much so, that the exclusivity of your printed cotton sarees online depends on the kind of printing technique used on it!
Let’s explore the blog till the end to learn more about the differences between block prints and screen prints, to help you make an informed decision before purchasing.
Block Printing/ Hand Block Printing
Block printing or hand block printing is one of the oldest art forms, that has been in practice since ancient times across India.
Whether it’s the Ajrakh-style block print from Kutch, Gujarat; or Dabu-style block printing from Rajasthan, it is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of India and is also one of the reasons why our country has been one of the most successful exporters of printed fabrics, especially hand block printed sarees since ages.
How Is Block Printing Done?
Hand block printing is a unique method that starts off with carving a design pattern on a wooden block. After this, the labourers fill the surface of the block with desired colours or dyes. The block is then stamped or pressed onto the fabric, which leaves an imprint of the design.
When compared to using a brush, hand block printing is considered to be a far better alternative as it brings along precision and clarity like no other technique.
Other than wooden blocks, stone blocks can also be feasible options for printing. However, wooden blocks are preferred majorly as carving the designs onto the surface is easier! Some of the most common block pattern prints that you may find across sarees or other textiles are floral patterns, animals, and many abstract designs.
Lastly, block printing is a labour-intensive method. Hence, it takes much more time for these products to get manufactured. This is what makes hand-block print sarees exclusive, unique, and one-of-a-kind!
Screen Printing
The screen printing method is one of the recent innovations that developed in the 19th century. Its methodology is radically different from hand block techniques and widely used for mass-producing sarees and textiles nowadays.
How Is Screen Printing Done?
When it comes to screen printing, a translucent and stretchable fabric, like silk, is used as a screen. The design that is to be imprinted is etched onto this screen, creating a mesh-like design that enables ink or dye to pass through it.
After that, a squeegee is used to force the dye to pass through the ink onto the fabric that is being printed. During this procedure, stencils are used to cover up the parts of the design that don’t require to be printed. This very process is repeated for different colours in the design.
Effective screen printing requires a well-lit workspace. Along with it, wax tables are crucial elements that help to secure the fabric while it has been stretched.
Understanding the Differences
Now that you know about both the printing techniques, let’s move on and understand the differences-
- The hand-block printing technique is labour-intensive. So, the manufacturing time of each product increases. That’s not at all the case with screen prints which is why screen-printed sarees can be produced in bulk in much less time.
- Hand-block printed sarees are known for their exclusivity, and therefore, are priced at a higher bracket. Screen-printed cotton sarees online, on the other hand, are results of mass production, and therefore, come at cheaper rates.
- Hand-block printed sarees have a coarser and raised fabric texture, which happens due to the pressure applied by the block. However, screen-printed sarees are softer and smoother.
- Block-printing techniques focus more on traditional aesthetics, while screen-printing techniques are more versatile in terms of design.
Which Is The Preferable Choice?
Honestly, it entirely depends on you, and the kind of style, budget, and design you’re looking for! If you’re up for some exclusive designs, screen-printed or hand-block printed Bengal handloom sarees can suit you the best.
Are you looking for the best saree shops in Kolkata to elevate your festive wardrobe? Visit reputed boutiques like Dora By Phoenix and explore a formidable range of the latest and the most exclusive collection of sarees today!
